Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated on December 4, 2025, that the latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) software update permits drivers to text while the system is engaged, depending on surrounding traffic conditions. This follows a promise made in November and has sparked concerns over legality and safety, as texting while driving remains banned in nearly all U.S. states. Independent tests confirmed the feature's operation in low-congestion scenarios without alerts.
On December 4, 2025, Elon Musk responded to a query on X (formerly Twitter) about whether Tesla's FSD v14.2.1 update allows texting and driving. "Depending on context of surrounding traffic, yes," Musk wrote, confirming a capability he first announced at Tesla's early November shareholder meeting. There, he predicted the feature would arrive "within the next month or two" after reviewing safety statistics.
FSD remains a Level 2 driver-assistance system under SAE standards, requiring constant driver supervision. Tesla's cabin camera and steering wheel sensors monitor attentiveness, issuing warnings or disengaging if eyes stray too long—typically after five strikes, suspending features. The update appears to relax these parameters in scenarios like stop-and-go traffic or red lights, where the system deems distraction safe.
Hands-on tests validated the change. A Business Insider reporter, using a 2024 Model 3 in Silicon Valley, texted colleagues via iPhone during a seven-minute drive to a salon on a clear afternoon. The vehicle navigated tight roads with parked cars and a trash truck without incidents or alerts, though it occasionally prompted steering input. Similarly, Teslarati tested in Pennsylvania across congestion levels: no nudges in low-traffic local roads or medium-traffic areas with lights, but an alert on a high-congestion highway after five to seven seconds of phone use.
Legally, this does not override bans on texting while driving, prohibited in nearly all 50 states per the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Half of states also ban handheld phone use. Drivers remain fully liable, as FSD is supervised. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating FSD for over 50 reports of running red lights or entering wrong lanes, plus crashes in low-visibility conditions. Separately, California's Department of Motor Vehicles seeks to suspend Tesla's sales for misleading autonomy claims, with a decision expected by year-end.
Critics argue this blurs safety lines, fostering complacency in a system not yet at Level 3, where manufacturers assume liability. Tesla has not commented further beyond Musk's post.
