New Age of Distracted Driving

There are more tempting distractions than ever while you drive. Today, most new cars come equipped with a large screen that contains music playlists, texts, and some even play movies. In order to balance the convenience of this screen with public safety, automakers have implemented many safety features. These measures are taken to ensure these vehicles adhere to the Vehicle Safety Act. This law requires automobile manufactures to implement safety standards to protect against unreasonable risk of accidents resulting from the design or operation of a vehicle. However, automobile manufacturers, such as Tesla, are developing vehicles that are more autonomous. Since Tesla’s vehicles offer autonomous driving, it is at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of this safety law. In December 2021, Tesla allowed drivers to play video games as their car drove itself. After a series of accidents caused by this distraction, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation to ensure Tesla adhered to the Vehicle Safety Act. This caused Tesla to disallow video games while driving. When you drive, please continue to keep your eyes on the road and avoid distractions like texting or playing video games, even if your car can drive itself.