Tesla to roll out ‘parental controls’ in vehicles to safeguard young drivers in models
New software update to include “night curfew” feature
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A popular car brand is mulling over installing parental controls which could limit the speed of vehicles during the evenings.
Tesla is reportedly testing out a new technology which would offer parents the ability to limit the speed of models as well as other safety features.
The point of the restrictions is to prevent any harm to younger drivers who may also be insured on the vehicle.
The “night curfew” feature would also alert parents if the car is being used at night or at certain times of the day.
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'Valet mode' disables self-driving and hides personal information
GETTYAccording to The Times, the new feature would also mean that to exceed the set speed limit, the driver would have to enter a pin.
Tesla models currently benefit from a “valet mode” which can limit the speed and lock the glove box and boot of the car.
It also disables self-driving and hides personal information such as home addresses to protect the owner's privacy.
Steve Cole, director of policy, campaigns and public affairs at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, stated that the organisation was in favour of the “safeguarding” measures.
He did however explain that safety “should not be limited to users of any specific vehicle type”.
For young drivers in particular, Cole said he would like to see the introduction of graduated driver licensing which is a progressive system.
Earlier this year, a petition was launched calling for the introduction of the system to apply to young drivers under 25.
Such schemes are used in other countries around the world, including Canada and New Zealand, which has already led to a reduction in incidents among younger drivers.
As part of the petition, Crystal Owen made several suggestions which could help younger drivers be more confident behind the wheel and boost safety.
These included having a minimum learning period of 40 hours to help young drivers gain skills and experience on different roads under different conditions.
Other restrictions include not being able to carry passengers 25 and under for the first year, limits on driving at night between midnight and 6am and mandatory hazard perception training.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation said Tesla was “incredibly sensible” for choosing to trial out the new feature.
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The parental controls would affect drivers speed
TESLAThe most recent data from the Department for Transport found that the number of car fatalities involving drivers between the ages of 17 and 24 is falling, with 448 killed in 1990 and just 101 in 2022.