Tesla to stop games on moving car screens after NHTSA probe

Tesla Inc is going to stop allowing video games to be played on vehicle screens when its vehicles are moving, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday.

The move comes after an announcement by the NHTSA on Wednesday that it had started a safety investigation on 580,000 Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 concerning the automaker’s decision to enable games to be played on the front center touchscreen while the vehicle is in motion.

This functionality, referred to as “Passenger Play,” could distract the driver and increase the risk of accident, the NHTSA said.

Tesla has informed the agency that a software update will lock the “Passenger Play” feature and it would be no longer usable when the vehicle is in motion, a spokesperson for the agency said.

“The NHTSA constantly assesses how manufacturers identify and safeguard against distraction hazards that may arise due to defects, misuse, or intended use of convenience technologies, including infotainment screens,” the agency said.