Tesla Adds Parental Controls, New Night Curfew Mode to Curb Rash Driving

Although Tesla cars aren’t available in India just yet, the company’s latest vehicle software update introduces new and improved parental control features that will likely strike a chord with anyone upset by recent news reports of fatal accidents caused by young drivers. The new software capabilities are intended to help parents limit what their children can do with a car, especially if they are inexperienced and still learning how to handle a car. Imposing restrictions through the car’s software could help prevent accidents and give parents some peace of mind.

If these features are widely adopted by other carmakers, many enthusiastic young drivers could soon have access to only a locked-down driving experience, which will be secured with a PIN. Parents will be able to use this to set a maximum speed limit and restrict acceleration by setting the Drive Mode to “Chill”. Parents will also be able to force the use of other built-in safety features which can ordinarily be disabled, such as Speed Limit Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Forward Collision Warning.

Speed Limit Warning sounds a chime and shows an alert on the car’s screen if a predetermined speed limit is approached or crossed. Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking are designed to reduce the possibility of an impact by alerting the driver to obstacles in their path, and then applying the car’s brakes autonomously to reduce the severity of an impact if it cannot be averted.

Also read: 25 Safest Cars in India: Global NCAP Rating for Indian Cars in 2024

The Night Curfew Mode will send the car owner an alert if it is used beyond a preset time each day. This would mean that parents are notified if someone who has access to their car is attempting to drive it without their knowledge.

These updates will roll out as part of Tesla’s software version 2024.26 for the Model 3, Model S, Model Y, and Model X. According to Teslarati, it is currently only available to Tesla employees, who will test it before the company’s worldwide user base gets the chance to upgrade.

Also Read: Auto Buyers Say Yes to Safety, No to Self-Driving; New Study Reveals

Other notable changes with version 2024.26 include access to YouTube Music and Amazon Music (which require a Premium Connectivity package or Wi-Fi hotspot access), and weather forecasts and air quality information with an alert for poor air quality. Tesla owners will also be able to set up charging and preconditioning in advance, on demand or on a repeating schedule. Navigation is improved with the ability to define sub-destinations, such as a specific pickup point within a venue. 

Other minor changes include updates for built-in games, default full-screen mode for Zoom meetings when a car is parked, automatic fan speed reduction when on phone calls to reduce background hum, and a redesigned climate control panel. Finally, the update adds support for TeslaMic, a microphone accessory that pairs with a car’s infotainment system to let occupants sing karaoke.