Home / Technology / Musk Claims New Tesla Software Permits Texting
Musk Claims New Tesla Software Permits Texting
5 Dec
Summary
- Tesla's FSD update reportedly allows texting while driving.
- Nearly all US states ban texting and driving.
- NHTSA investigates FSD for running red lights and lane departures.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has indicated that the newest version of the company's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software may permit drivers to text while operating their vehicles. This statement comes despite the fact that texting while driving is illegal in almost all US states. Musk suggested the update allows this "depending on context of surrounding traffic," a claim for which further details were not provided.
The safety implications are significant, as nearly all 50 states have laws against texting while driving, and about half prohibit any handheld phone use. Tesla's FSD remains a driver-assistance system, not full autonomy, and drivers are warned to remain attentive and ready to take control, as they remain liable for the vehicle's actions.
Adding to concerns, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is actively investigating Tesla's FSD software. The agency has received over 50 reports of the system running red lights or drifting into other lanes. This scrutiny intensifies as Tesla also faces a legal challenge from the California DMV over its marketing of FSD and Autopilot, accused of misleading consumers about the vehicles' autonomous capabilities.
