Watch a 'dumb' driver wear a new Apple Vision Pro headset behind the wheel
Road safety activists have issued warnings about using Apple's new Vision Pro headsets while driving.
Apple's $3,500 (£2,800) Vision Pro hit shelves on Friday, but has already been the subject of viral videos showing them in scenes that Apple has explicitly advised against.
A video that attracted huge numbers of viewers over the weekend shows a man named Dante using virtual reality (VR) glasses while driving on a highway.
In the video, the man's eyes are completely covered by the headset as he drives in multi-lane traffic.
At one point, both hands are off the wheel as he interacts with VR content visible only on the headset.
The video is ultimately about the man who is arrested by the American police.
It is not known where he was driving and which police department stopped him.
Dante's Twitter account says he lives in Palo Alto, California.
Warning from Apple
Apple has laid out an extensive list of do's and don'ts regarding its new product, which the company claims will revolutionize the computing world.
On a help page on its website, Apple urges customers to always be aware of their surroundings when wearing the Vision Pro headsets.
“Apple Vision Pro is designed for use in controlled areas that are safe, on a flat surface,” the company wrote.
“Do not use it around stairs, balconies, railings, glass, mirrors, sharp objects, sources of excessive heat, windows or other hazards.
“Never use Apple Vision Pro while operating a moving vehicle, bicycle, heavy machinery, or in other situations that require attention to safety.”
In the Vision Pro headset, users can see one clear view of their environment and the VR content they interact with.
However, both Apple and road safety experts still consider using the Vision Pro while driving unsafe.
Apple adds: “Apple Vision Pro is not intended for use in which failure of the device could result in death, personal injury, or serious environmental damage.”
There have also been separate viral videos of people wearing the Apple Vision Pro headsets while crossing the road.
This trend has shocked motorists and road safety experts alike.
“You can't do that while you're driving,” David Reich, spokesman for the National Road Safety Foundation, told The Telegraph.
“The idea of someone using them when not in a self-driving car would be disastrous.
“You have to concentrate on driving; this is the task ahead,” said Mr Reich, whose organization aims to improve driving standards through education.
“This seems like a big distraction to me.”
Cathy Chase, chair of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, also told the Telegraph: “While new technologies such as virtual reality offer an exciting way to experience the world around us, they have no place behind the wheel of a car.
“Any behavior that diverts a driver's attention from the driving task is dangerous and irresponsible and puts us all at serious risk of death or injury, especially vulnerable road users such as pedestrians.
“Instead, let's promote technology, like advanced driver assistance systems, that can actually save lives.”