Elon Musk Claims Tesla's FSD Update Allows Texting While Driving

On Thursday, Elon Musk commented on X that the latest Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software from Tesla allows drivers to text and use their phones under certain traffic conditions. However, texting while driving remains illegal in almost every U.S. state.

Musk responded to a user who observed that the newest FSD version no longer displayed warnings when using a phone behind the wheel. He clarified that the feature functions "depending on the context of surrounding traffic," suggesting that Tesla has relaxed some driver-monitoring restrictions during slow-moving or stationary traffic.

Law enforcement officials emphasize that there are no legal exceptions for phone use simply because a driver-assistance system is active. Approximately half of U.S. states prohibit any handheld phone activity while driving, while others specifically ban texting, meaning drivers could still receive citations under distracted-driving regulations, regardless of FSD alerts.

Tesla markets FSD as "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)," though regulatory agencies categorize it as a Level 2 driver-assistance system requiring continuous human supervision. The system relies on in-cabin cameras and steering-wheel sensors to track driver attention, and the human driver must intervene when the system cannot handle a situation.

Tesla is also approaching the conclusion of a legal dispute with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV claims Tesla misrepresented Autopilot and FSD as self-driving technologies and has requested a temporary suspension of the companys vehicle sales and manufacturing license in California for 30 days. A ruling is expected by the end of the year.

Author: Chloe Ramirez