Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, took to social media to caution owners of Apple Vision Pro headsets against using them while driving, even in cars with semi-autonomous driving capabilities. Buttigieg emphasised the necessity for drivers to maintain complete focus while operating their vehicles.

Concerns arose following viral videos depicting individuals wearing the newly released spatial computing headset while operating vehicles. One such video featured a staged scenario where a Tesla driver was purportedly pulled over by police while using the headset. Despite the video being a staged production, the driver admitted to briefly using the headset while driving.

The Vision Pro headset, which imposes virtual content onto physical surroundings, presents a clear distraction to drivers. Apple's support documentation explicitly advises against using the device while driving or engaging in activities that demand attention to safety, urging users to limit its use to controlled environments.

Why does it matter?

As XR technologies, including spatial computing headsets like Apple Vision Pro, become more prevalent, there's a growing need to address safety concerns associated with their usage. The overlay of virtual content onto the physical environment, as in the case of Vision Pro, can pose distractions, particularly in situations that demand a high level of attention, such as driving. To learn more about the dangers and policy implications of these technologies, please visit our dedicated page on metaverse and its underlying technologies.