Elon Musk: Tesla drivers will soon be able to text and drive
During the recent Tesla shareholders’ meeting on November 6, CEO Elon Musk made headlines not only for his substantial $1 trillion pay package, which was approved by shareholders, but also for his controversial comments regarding the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. Musk suggested that Tesla is on the verge of allowing drivers to text while using FSD, a feature he claims could be available in just one to two months. This announcement raises significant concerns, given the existing safety implications and legal restrictions surrounding texting and driving across the United States. Currently, while FSD allows for hands-free driving, it still requires drivers to remain attentive and occasionally touch the steering wheel. Tesla’s systems are designed to detect mobile device usage, issuing warnings to drivers who attempt to engage with their phones while using Autopilot features.
Musk’s remarks come on the heels of Tesla’s introduction of a new “Mad Max” mode for FSD, which enables faster speeds and more aggressive lane changes. This feature has already caught the eye of federal investigators, highlighting the potential risks associated with such aggressive driving capabilities. Despite Musk’s optimism about the advancements in FSD technology, it is crucial to remember that most states have laws prohibiting texting while driving, with Montana being the only state without a comprehensive ban. Musk’s history of overpromising on timelines for self-driving technology adds another layer of skepticism to his recent claims. In 2017, he predicted that drivers would soon be able to nap behind the wheel, a timeline that has yet to materialize, and his 2019 assertion about the imminent arrival of robotaxis only recently came to fruition in Austin, Texas.
As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology, the implications of allowing texting while driving could have far-reaching effects on road safety and regulatory scrutiny. While the advancements in FSD may offer convenience to drivers, the potential for increased distractions raises serious questions about the responsibilities of both Tesla and its users. The intersection of technology, safety, and legality will undoubtedly be a focal point as Tesla navigates these new developments in the coming months.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNxtksmYE2E
During the Nov. 6 Tesla shareholders’ meeting, Elon Musk said that the electric vehicle company is almost ready to allow texting and driving. Musk said that this feature could be coming to full self-driving mode in just one or two months, according to
Electrek
.
The biggest news from the shareholders’ event concerned Musk’s pay package. At the meeting, shareholders voted to approve
Musk’s $1 trillion pay package
, which is set to make the world’s richest man even richer. However, the CEO’s “texting and driving” comments also deserve a closer look.
In Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode (FSD), drivers can go hands-free, although they are required to pay attention and occasionally make contact with the wheel. If drivers attempt to use a mobile device while FSD is engaged, the Autopilot feature is designed to detect this activity and issue a warning to the driver.
A
Tesla online driver’s manual
states: “Do not use handheld devices while using Autopilot features. If the cabin camera detects a handheld device while Autopilot is engaged, the touchscreen displays a message reminding you to pay attention.”
Now, Musk says the company believes FSD is advanced enough that drivers could look away from the road and fire off text messages. This follows Tesla’s
introduction of a new “Mad Max” mode
for FSD customers, which allows higher speeds and more aggressive lane changes. That feature, which debuted in October, almost instantly caught the attention of federal investigators.
Of course, most states (as well as many cities and counties) have laws against texting while driving. In fact,
Montana is the only state
without a total ban on the practice.
We should also point out that Musk has a
long history of overestimating timelines for his products
, particularly when it comes to self-driving.
In 2017, he predicted that drivers would be able
to nap behind the wheel by 2019
. Undeterred, he predicted in 2019 that robotaxis would soon be ready for the road. Tesla only launched its robotaxi service this year, and only in Austin, Texas.
