When Tesla launched the new Model S and Model X last week, critics immediately attacked the vehicles’ unique shape “stick” steering system. If the recent comments from UK regulators are any indication, however, it appears that the Tesla stick’s direction for the upgraded main vehicles will find a welcome home on Britain’s roads.
UK road vehicles are governed by several regulatory bodies. In a recent report, The Sunday Times has chosen to obtain confirmation from the appropriate agency to see if the Tesla steering stick would be approved for public use or not. The publication reached the Driver and Vehicle Safety Agency (DVSA), which forwarded it to the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA). The VCA then passed the Times for the Department of Transport (DfT).
The UK Department of Transport oversees all agencies and policy decisions involving roads, vehicles and traffic safety. Following a survey, the publication received a short response, and was quite positive for the US-based electric car manufacturer: “The regulations on steering equipment (UN-ECE Regulation 79) do not stipulate any shape or size the steering wheel, ”wrote the DfT.
The UK body’s response echoes the Netherlands’ position Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer (RDW), which oversees the licensing, registration and control of vehicles and driving in the country. In a recent statement to a local news agency, RDW confirmed that Tesla’s unique format steering system for the Model S and Model X are completely legal. The agency even cited the same UNECE Regulation 79 to highlight its point.
The DfT’s guidance on MOT inspections makes reference to testing various steering systems, including forks and handlebars. Based on agency guidelines, a steering system can pass, as long as there is no excessive play, wear or damage that would make the vehicle dangerous. Projects that could result in accidents would also trigger a recall. In short, as long as Tesla can demonstrate that the new Model S and the Model X steering stick are safe, it would be totally legal for use on UK roads.
However, the DfT noted that there is something about Tesla’s new flagship cars that warrants concern. Tesla notes on its official website that the Model S and Model X feature wireless control compatibility that allows games from any seat in the vehicle. According to the DfT, UK law states that features such as video games should not be available to passengers in the front seat when the car is in motion. If Tesla allows Arcade games to appear on the main screen of the Model S and Model X to update while vehicles are in motion, the company may come into conflict with regulators, even if the front passenger is the one playing, no the driver.
“By law, drivers can only use screens to view driving information related to the state of the vehicle or its equipment, when navigation is displayed or to assist in visualizing the road around the vehicle. According to road vehicle regulations (constriction and use), screens used for anything else should not be visible to the driver while the vehicle is being driven, ”said a DfT spokesman.
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