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Physical controls are deemed safer than touchscreens. Illustrative image: Volvo. |
According to CarBuzz, the European New Car Assessment Program — commonly known as Euro NCAP — will begin reducing safety ratings of new vehicles that fail to equip physical buttons, dials, or knobs for critical functions like turn signals, hazard lights, horns, and windshield wipers.
Essentially, Euro NCAP will require automakers to offer physical controls for the most crucial functions in a car to qualify for a safety certification.
Matthew Avery, Euro NCAP’s director of research, suggests that over-reliance on touchscreens has become an industry-wide problem.
“By increasingly moving more and more vehicle functions into central touchscreen menus, carmakers are forcing drivers to take their eyes off the road for longer, increasing the risk of distraction-related collisions,” Mr. Avery said.
He affirms that Euro NCAP’s testing by 2026 will incentivize automakers to include intuitive physical controls for basic functions, thereby minimizing driver’s eyes-off-the-road time and promoting safer driving.
CarBuzz cites the Mercedes-Benz EQS as an example; while the electric vehicle has a large Hyperscreen that could be distracting, its hazard lights are activated via a separate button on the center console, and its turn signals still use a stalk.
As such, the Mercedes-Benz EQS would still meet Euro NCAP’s upcoming safety protocols as described above.
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Despite its large screen, the Mercedes-Benz EQS still qualifies for Euro NCAP safety by having physical controls for vital functions. Photo: Anh Xuan. |
In contrast, newer versions of the Tesla Model 3 have turn signals that are activated by touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. CarBuzz posits that it will be a contentious topic as to whether or not the tap-to-flash functionality is safe enough.
CarBuzz also points to a 2022 study from the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobile-Club (ADAC) in Germany which found that the Mazda3, with its relative abundance of physical controls in its cabin, has the safest infotainment system design currently available.
Meanwhile, Thierry Metroz, design director for Stellantis-owned DS Automobiles, has called the automotive industry’s trend towards touchscreens “quite stupid.”
“The problem with touchscreens is that, when they’re turned off, you’re just left with a black rectangle full of fingerprints. It’s not very pretty or luxurious,” Mr. Metroz told Autocar in July of 2022.
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