Elon Musk, the CEO of both Tesla and Twitter, has responded to a request from a Tesla owner on Twitter to add a safety feature that would detect people left in a parked car and maintain a comfortable temperature. Twitter user @Tesladiva99 expressed concern that if a child were left in the car and couldn’t or wouldn’t touch the screen to turn it back on, they could be at risk of heatstroke.
Musk’s response was reassuring, stating that all Teslas keep their interior temperatures in a safe range, even when the car is turned off, in order to protect infants and pets. However, he agreed that it would be more convenient to keep the car “on” automatically if the interior camera detects occupants, so that they can use the entertainment and comfort features of the Tesla. Musk then promised to make the necessary changes to ensure this feature is implemented.
Tesla car temp is automatically kept within a safe range, even when the car appears “off”, in order to protect infants & pets.
That said, it would be more convenient to keep the car “on” for entertainment & comfort if the camera detects occupants. We will make that change.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 29, 2023
The request from @Tesladiva99 highlights an important issue that affects many parents who have left their children in the car while running errands. According to the National Safety Council, heatstroke in cars has led to an average of 38 deaths per year. While not every Tesla will be eligible for this safety upgrade, Musk’s revelation that all Teslas maintain a safe interior temperature means that children should be safe from heatstroke deaths, even if they’re waiting for their parent without access to entertainment features.
While some Twitter commenters were less than sympathetic to @Tesladiva99’s request, it’s important to remember that this feature would provide an automatic solution to a problem that many parents face. By detecting occupants and maintaining a comfortable temperature, this feature could save lives and prevent tragic accidents.
