Getty Image / Harun Ozalp/Anadolu/iStock/Alexander Shapovalov
With the rollout of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system (FSD) v14.2.1 update, Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk announced that some drivers will now be able to text message while driving. That, of course, remains legal in nearly every state in the country.
While over half of the states in our country have outright bans on holding a phone while driving, it is illegal in all but one state to text message while driving regardless of whether the car is a Tesla or not. Montana remains the only state without an explicit ban on texting while driving.
Elon Musk Says ‘Yes’ To Texting While Driving With Tesla FSD
Given the parameters I just outlined above, technically Elon Musk is correct. There are some scenarios in which Tesla drivers could conceivably send text messages while driving without running afoul of the law.
His response was from a question by the @Teslaconomics account asking specifically if they could text while driving after the new FSD v14.2.1 update. Here is what Elon said:
X / Elon Musk
Immediately, jokes began to proliferate across X about who would be the first person to send Tesla a bill for a ticket the driver received for texting. My mind immediately jumped to a darker place. Would they be on the hook now for potential medical bills if Tesla drivers injured themselves in any way while text messaging and driving with Tesla FSD.
Back in November, Elon Musk had said Tesla FSD drivers would be able to text and drive “within a month or two” so this is not the first time the Tesla CEO has made this assertion, according to Electrek.
The NCSL points out that 49 of 50 states have laws on the books addressing texting while driving. So even if Tesla drivers would be safe behind the wheel text messaging while using Tesla’s FSD, if an officer sees a driver with a phone in their hands in 49 of 50 states they will face consequences.
Will drivers follow their state’s laws or heed the advice of Tesla CEO Elon Musk? Only time will tell.