A disturbing trend has recently emerged as viral videos circulate featuring individuals driving while wearing Apple's Vision Pro, prompting a plea from the White House to practice road safety.
With videos of users using the $3,500 headset while driving, the device has quickly become a source of controversy. The perilous act not only jeopardizes public safety but also gains millions of views. In particular. two viral videos of people in Tesla cars, including the Cybertruck, per Gizmodo.
Tesla's Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot, and Full Self-Driving technologies do not provide cars with autonomy; drivers must be vigilant with their hands on the steering wheel.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg weighed in on Monday, emphasizing the need for drivers to maintain control, especially when obstructing their vision with the Apple Vision Pro.
"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," the Biden administration official posted on X (formerly Twitter).
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. https://t.co/OpPy36mOgC
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 5, 2024
Apple: Do Not Use the Vision Pro While Driving
The misuse of AR/VR headsets while driving is deemed illegal in some states, such as Alaska, falling under laws regulating screen use while driving. Austin McDaniel, communications director at the Alaska Department of Public Safety, clarified that such usage is considered a misdemeanor and may escalate to a felony if it leads to injury or death.
Adding to the concern, one driver involved in the viral videos dismissed the seriousness, labeling it a "skit" for laughs. Dante Lentini, a 21-year-old, admitted to driving a Tesla with the Apple Vision Pro briefly, without hands on the wheel, underscoring the gravity of the situation given the presence of other road users.
Apple explicitly warns against using the Vision Pro while driving in its user guide, cautioning users to avoid operating the device in a moving vehicle, on a bicycle, or in situations requiring attention to safety.
According to First Post, Apple has introduced a travel mode for the Vision Pro, allowing limited functionality during airplane movement. However, users are advised to remove the headset during takeoff and landing due to potential issues with viewing plane windows. Some users claim to have used the headset in moving vehicles, although the code suggests optimal performance when stationary.
(Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) A customer uses the Apple Vision Pro headset during the product launch at the Apple Store in New York City on February 2, 2024. The Vision Pro, the tech giant's $3,499 headset, is its first major release since the Apple Watch nine years ago.
Apart from safety concerns, Vision Pro imposes restrictions on accessing adult content, causing frustration among users despite the availability of sex tech apps. As users explore the device's capabilities, a debate ensues on whether to strictly adhere to Apple's safety guidelines or push the limits of this immersive technology.
No Comment From Tesla Yet
Tesla, however, has remained silent on the matter. In December, the electric automaker recalled over 2 million vehicles, addressing a defective system aimed at ensuring driver attentiveness when using the Autopilot feature.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation into Tesla in 2021, focusing on crashes involving more than a dozen fatalities related to the company's driver-assisted features. The NHTSA stated last year that its probe revealed inadequacies in Autopilot's methods of ensuring driver attentiveness, as reported by CBS News.
