Famous actress Jamie Lynn Spears is blaming Tesla for the death of her cat after the silent vehicle did not alert the animal that it was moving towards him.
Spears, the younger sister of early 2000s pop music star Britney Spears, accessed her Instagram to complain to Tesla CEO Elon Musk about the silent nature of the car, which she blames for the death of several family cats . “Someone needs to warn Elon Musk that Tesla is a secret cat killer,” Spears said in an Instagram story. “It is a problem that we really need to fix.”
Because of the lack of a combustion engine, transmission and other noise-emitting parts of the car, Teslas are relatively quiet vehicles. In fact, NHTSA required that all electric vehicles built after September 2019 be equipped with a noise generator. The noise generator would be activated when the vehicle is traveling below 19 miles per hour, which is the speed that NHTSA believes that the noise is properly made by the vehicle to alert pedestrians that the car is close and moving.
In addition, the Teslas is also equipped with several external cameras, which provide the driver with an extremely clear picture of what is around the car. Even if the car makes minimal noise when in motion, it is still the driver’s responsibility to be aware of the environment.
Spears’ cat, called Turkey, fell in a garage and, unfortunately, it is not the first time the family has lost a pet because of the vehicle. “Now we lose, I don’t even want to say how many cats because they don’t hear Tesla Crank and unfortunate things happen. And it is really devastating and tragic for everyone involved. “
It is unfortunate, no doubt, that the Spears have lost several pets due to negligence while driving. Although there is a lack of noise in the Tesla, it is still always the driver’s responsibility to remain alert. Spears is using Instagram in an attempt to convince CEO Elon Musk that a new feature is needed that alarms animals that a nearby vehicle is in motion.
ALSO READ:
Tesla’s Dog Mode helps the owner of the Model S to win accusations of cruelty to animals
Tesla certainly has a thing for pets, and the company added “Dog Mode” several years ago so that animals could stay at an appropriate temperature while their owner was not in the car during a task. Spears suggests that it wouldn’t have to be an annoying or stereotyped EV noise. “Perhaps [Elon] you can make one of those noises that bother the ears of a cat or animal when it increases, so that they know something is happening and don’t be caught off guard. “
The noise could probably be added in a software update and would be considered useful for outdoor pet owners. If Musk decides to add the feature, ultimately it is up to him, but with the company’s weak spot for animals, there is a good chance Musk will consider the option.
What do you think? Leave a comment below. Do you have a tip? Send us an email to [email protected] or contact me at [email protected].