Elon Musk Says Tesla Drivers Can Text While Driving, But They Absolutely Should Not

I can’t judge I person to opportunity this, but Tesla drivers should not commencement texting while driving, contempt what Elon Musk says. Do not perceive to nan billionaire CEO of nan institution that makes your car. He will not beryllium liable if there’s a clang — you will.

Musk took a break from posting racist and xenophobic screeds yesterday to corroborate that nan latest type of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving package would let for immoderate instances of texting while driving, contempt it being incredibly unsafe and forbidden successful 49 states, Washington, DC, and nan US territories. (Montana, wyd?) “Depending connected discourse of surrounding traffic, yes,” Musk replied to nan mobility of whether FSD v14.2.1 would let nan forbidden behavior.

But conscionable to repeat: do not do this. You not only beryllium risking your life, but nan lives of everyone astir you.

For months now, Musk has been promising an “unsupervised” type of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving package that he claims will alteration drivers to, among different things, usage their phones while driving. The existent type of FSD is simply a Level 2 “supervised” system, meaning drivers are required to enactment focused connected nan roadworthy and beryllium fresh to return power of nan conveyance erstwhile prompted. (In different words, not afloat self-driving.) For years, Musk has been hyping a infinitesimal erstwhile Tesla’s vehicles will really thrust themselves — nary supervision required.

Last month, astatine Tesla’s yearly shareholder meeting, Musk said that an upcoming FSD update, Version 14, would yet let for unsupervised driving. “And now pinch type 14, we’re really getting to nan constituent wherever we almost consciousness comfortable allowing group to matter and drive,” Musk said astatine nan event. “Which is benignant of nan slayer app, because that’s really what group want to do.”

Currently, Tesla vehicles person in-cabin cameras that way drivers’ oculus movement. If a driver’s attraction wanders while utilizing FSD, nan cameras will announcement and nan strategy will alert them to put their eyes backmost connected nan road. If they don’t, nan strategy tin disengage. Five strikes tin consequence successful a suspension of FSD. Tesla owners person agelong complained astir these “nags” and urged Musk to trim their frequency.

Musk’s remark yesterday suggests that he’s listening and that Tesla could relax nan requirements successful definite situations, for illustration stop-and-go traffic. But this doesn’t alteration nan ineligible reality, successful which texting while driving is strictly prohibited.

Imagine a bull pulls you complete aft catching you texting while driving your Tesla. Do you deliberation “Elon Musk said it was OK” is going to get you disconnected nan hook? And God forbid there’s a crash, do you deliberation Tesla will return responsibility?

I get it — FSD tin beryllium very capable. Many Tesla fans are amazed astatine what their car tin do, and afloat judge Musk erstwhile he says that existent autonomy is conscionable astir nan corner. But nan truth remains that nan driver — and only nan driver – is liable for thing that happens while Autopilot and FSD are successful operation. Unlike Waymo, Tesla won’t return work for immoderate incidents because it knows its vehicles aren’t afloat autonomous. Why would it return work for a Level 2 system? When Tesla owners person tried to unit nan institution to judge liability for definite incidents, it has fought backmost successful tribunal — and often won.

Don’t beryllium stupid. Don’t perceive to Elon Musk. Watch nan road.