Update: Tesla's 2021 Report Card - Best and Worst of the Year

Driving is a dangerous business, and it is imperative that drivers keep their attention on the road at all times That's why we were quite taken aback by the news that Tesla's infotainment system can play video games while driving [This is according to The New York Times, which also reports that Tesla implemented an update over the summer that allows for games such as Solitaire, Skyforce Reloaded, and Battle for Polytopia: Sky Force Reloaded" and "Battle for Polytopia: Moonrise" while driving, according to the report

Tesla's infotainment screens do a lot, but how much they do depends on the model Affordable models like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y do not have a typical instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, so all information must be displayed on a screen in the center console

This includes speed and range In addition to this, this would include everything one would expect to see on a modern infotainment screen, such as navigation and audio controls In other words, the center screen is not only designed to be in the driver's field of vision, it is essential, especially in a Tesla

The Tesla's screen displays a warning and notes, "Playback while driving is for passengers only" This suggests that the car's computer knows it is running, but lets someone play the game anyway

It is easy to argue that there is absolutely no need for a car that can play video games in the first place, but the reverse is also true From a passenger's perspective, it is convenient to be able to do more than stare out the window

However, there is absolutely no situation in which the driver should be able to watch the game Whether it is to avoid being distracted by what is on the screen or to prevent them from trying to play the game when they should be concentrating on the road

Relying on common sense to police driver behavior is not such a good idea While most drivers would not think of playing video games in their cars, there are still those who do After all, there are still plenty of people who drive while texting, so the obvious solution is to disable it when the car is moving

Other automakers have already done this, and it's not a particularly new development: in 2014, a British driver bought a device that bypassed in-car safety features, allowing him to view content on his dashboard screen while driving

Android Auto also added support for Game Snacks earlier this year, allowing drivers to play mini-games on the car's center screen However, the app only works while the car is parked, and an error message appears if the driver tries to play it while the car is in motion

In some places, it is also a crime to look at the screen while driving In the UK, for example, such laws have been in place since the 1980s, making it a crime to use the screen for anything other than displaying driving information US states also have various distracted driving laws, which primarily target cell phone use, but may apply to other devices as well

Tesla should have known better Because safe driving is serious business Unfortunately, the New York Times reported that the company and CEO Elon Musk did not respond to requests for comment