Whether to create buzz or show off, the use of Apple’s Vision Pro headset while driving seems to be increasing in the United States. A preposterous idea, which forces the American government to react.
The Apple Vision Pro costs over $3,500. It’s expensive, but we can at least hope that it somewhat limits a worrying new fashion across the Atlantic. Since the release of Apple’s new Vision Pro on Friday February 2, 2024, videos of Tesla drivers have multiplied. In addition to being inattentive while driving, relying solely on the driving aids, they have Apple’s virtual reality headset on their noses. Some do it to create buzz on social networks, but unfortunately bad ideas of this type risk inspiring others, who will not necessarily see the danger.
All this has a way of annoying road safety associations, and the American government is also already worried about the consequences. Apple has, however, made it clear that you should never use the headset while driving a moving vehicle.
Already over 50 million views for these videos of Apple Vision in Teslas
Cumulatively, the two main videos on the subject have achieved 50 million views on X (Twitter) alone. Numerama took up the subject on Saturday February 3, the same day of the release of Apple’s virtual reality headset, with the first video to have emerged on the networks, involving a Model Y driver.
Since then, another video of a driver in Tesla’s all-new Cybertruck has also emerged. However, if the Model Y can drive with “Full Self Driving” (FSD) while vaguely limiting the risks, this is not the case with the Cybertruck. It is therefore a higher level of dangerousness in this video of the second “driver”.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had to launch into a reminder of driving rules on X, in reaction to this second video : “ Remember – All advanced driver assistance systems available today require the human driver to remain in control and fully engaged in driving at all times. »
No reaction from Elon Musk
You will have quickly noticed, for the moment, there is one thing in common between these drivers: they all drive Teslas. The false sense of security, advocated for years by the brand in relation to driving aids (ADAS) developed internally, is generating more and more drifts on American roads. Over the years, we have seen dogs behind the wheel of Teslas, or driver’s seats empty of their occupants. Unfortunately, there is nothing new in the world of fans of the brand.
However, all it would take is a tweet from Elon Musk to signal the end of recess. A simple message saying “ Do not use the Vision Pro in Teslas (use our super central screen instead) » would have a much more radical impact than the tweet from the White House Transportation Secretary.
The Tesla boss probably won’t do anything about it, no doubt satisfied with this free publicity. It seems impossible that Elon Musk did not see the two videos that broke through on his social network X (Twitter). However, he seems more preoccupied in recent days with playing politics by commenting on immigration problems in the USA.
One thing is certain, because of Tesla drivers, it will quickly be necessary to legislate on the use of these helmets in all countries of the world to integrate them into the prohibitions of the highway code.
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