Elon Musk: Tesla drivers will soon be able to text and drive
At Tesla’s November 6 shareholder meeting, Elon Musk said the electric vehicle maker is almost ready to allow texting and driving. Musk said this feature could come to fully autonomous driving mode in just a month or two, according to Electrek.
The biggest news from the shareholder event concerned Musk’s salary package. At the meeting, shareholders voted in favor of Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package, which is expected 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 (FSD) mode, drivers can have their hands free, although they must pay attention and occasionally make contact with the steering wheel. If the driver attempts 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.
An online Tesla driver’s manual states: “Do not use handheld devices when using Autopilot features. If the cabin camera detects a portable device while Autopilot is engaged, the touchscreen displays a message reminding you to pay attention. »
Crushable speed of light
Now, Musk says the company believes FSD is advanced enough that drivers can look away from the road and send text messages. This follows Tesla’s introduction of a new “Mad Max” mode for FSD customers, which allows for higher speeds and more aggressive lane changes. The feature, launched in October, almost immediately caught the attention of federal investigators.
Of course, most states (and many cities and counties) have laws prohibiting texting while driving. In fact, Montana is the only state that does not completely ban the practice.
It’s also worth pointing out that Musk has long overestimated the timelines of his products, particularly when it comes to autonomous driving.
In 2017, he predicted that drivers could be napping behind the wheel by 2019. Undeterred, he predicted in 2019 that robo-taxis would soon be ready to hit the road. Tesla only launched its robotaxi service this year, and only in Austin, Texas.
