On December 5, Tesla released an update for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. This update permits Tesla owners to send text messages while the vehicle is operating in autonomous driving mode. Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, clarified that this function is accessible in particular situations, which are contingent upon traffic conditions.

A practical test conducted by Business Insider showed that during a 7-minute trip in a 2024 Model 3, the owner was able to send text messages continuously without the car intervening. Throughout the journey, the vehicle only prompted the driver to gently hold the steering wheel and sounded the horn as reminders. Meanwhile, the car continued to operate normally and adeptly steered clear of obstacles on intricate road sections.

However, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary investigation into around 2.88 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the FSD system. The investigation is centered on whether the system encourages high-risk behaviors, such as running red lights and driving in the wrong direction against the flow of traffic. As of now, 58 reports have been gathered. These reports detail 14 collisions, 23 injuries, and 6 instances where collisions occurred after running red lights.

Moreover, California imposes stringent regulations and substantial fines for distracted driving. Nevertheless, these rules are formulated based on human-driven scenarios and do not encompass mobile phone usage during autonomous driving. This situation presents a fresh challenge when it comes to determining liability.