Tesla and Apple Vision Pro VR: Dangerous Driving Trend Triggers Safety Alerts

Over the weekend, viral videos of people driving Teslas while wearing Apple's Vision Pro headsets sparked concern, causing authorities to issue warnings about the trend. Shortly after its release, people were seen piloting Tesla cybertrucks while wearing Vision Pro headsets.

Viral Footage Of Tesla Drivers Wearing VR Headsets While Driving Spark An Alarm

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responded Monday to a video of a guy driving a Tesla cybertruck and waving with his hands to navigate a virtual reality field, as per The Independent.

"Reminder – all advanced driver assistance systems available today require the human driver to be in control and fully engaged in the driving task at all times," Buttigieg said on X.

Apple's Vision Pro, priced at $3,499 (£2,470), debuted last week and combines three-dimensional digital information with a view of the outside world.

Apple has positioned the new headset as a significant advancement in its platforms, claiming that it is more than simply an augmented reality gadget; it is the first glimpse of a new paradigm known as "spatial computing."

The firm said at the time of its release that it should never be used while operating a "moving vehicle, bicycle, heavy machinery, or in any other situations requiring attention to safety."

Autopilot Concerns and Recall: Tesla Faces Safety and Compliance Challenges

Buttigieg has previously expressed similar concerns about using Tesla Autopilot. Tesla claims its advanced driver features are designed for a fully attentive driver "who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any moment."

The "dangerous" viral videos have alarmed road safety associations. "You can’t be doing that while you are driving,” said David Reich, spokesperson for the National Road Safety Foundation.

“The idea of anyone using them when not in a self-driving car would be disastrous," he was quoted by The Telegraph as saying. “You have to focus on driving; this is the task in hand. This seems to me like a major distraction,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tesla is recalling almost 2.2 million vehicles in the US due to an incorrect font size on its instrument panel for the brake, park, and antilock brake system (ABS) warning lights.

Photo: David von Diemar/Unsplash