Elon Musk has stated on his profile on his own social network X that drivers who make use of the autonomous driving mode of their FSD 14.2 vehicles could use their mobile phones and send messages behind the wheel. However, this is not true, as current US laws prohibit the use of a mobile phone behind the wheel, regardless of the type of driving.
In fact, the regulations on general circulation, the ES-AV Program or Framework Program for the Evaluation of Safety and Technology of Automated Vehicles, do not authorize FSD driving to private vehicles, only to those vehicles that are in the process of being tested. In addition, according to Business Insider, the Society of Automotive Engineers in fact considers Tesla’s FSD a “Supervised” system, and not a fully autonomous system as Musk claims.
Both the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Illinois State Police have denied the magnate’s claim, emphasizing that it would only be allowed in an emergency, when calling 911 is necessary. However, representatives from the state forces of Arizona, New York, and Illinois denied that there are any exceptions, considering the use of a mobile phone while driving illegal in any case.
FSD driving
It was not enough for him with Grokipedia’s failed promise or with claiming that by the end of 2026 we will launch a fleet of Optimus robots to reach Mars in the Starship, but Elon Musk has once again exposed himself with his latest statement on his own social network X. In response to a question from an X user about whether drivers could send text messages with the FSD 14.2 autonomous driving mode, Musk replied that indeed: “Depending on the surrounding traffic context, yes”.
Although regulations related to autonomous driving modes do not have clear legal frameworks, current laws do make explicit the prohibition of mobile phone use in cars. A regulatory framework has currently been approved for conducting trials of automated vehicles on public roads: the ES-AV Program or the Framework Program for Safety and Technology Evaluation of Automated Vehicles. Under these guidelines, Tesla has been authorized to conduct tests with a total of 19 automated vehicles throughout the territory. This regulation is specific to test vehicles, as the general traffic regulations do not allow FSD driving.
Response from the authorities
According to information published by Business Insider, the Society of Automotive Engineers actually considers Tesla’s FSD a “Supervised” system, and not a fully autonomous system as Musk claims. In response to his statement on social media, police forces and related departments have denied Musk’s information. Both the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Illinois State Police stated that the only situation in which the use of mobile devices would be allowed is in emergencies when calling 911 is required.
State law enforcement in Arizona, New York, and Illinois also spoke out, even more emphatically denying that there are any exceptions and stating that sending messages while the car is in FSD mode is illegal. According to the Arizona Department of Safety, “with the use of any other portable wireless communication device while driving”.
Frequently asked questions
What statements did Elon Musk make?
He replied to an X user who asked if texting while FSD driving was allowed with the following comment: “Depending on the surrounding traffic context, yes”.
Is there a specific regulation for FSD driving in the United States?
Autonomous driving modes do not have clear legal frameworks, but A regulatory framework has currently been approved for conducting trials of automated vehicles on public roads: the ES-AV Program or the Framework Program for Safety and Technology Evaluation of Automated Vehicles.