As of: March 9, 2024, 9:06 p.m
By: Patrick Freiwah
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Sound settings via touchscreen: Digital control surfaces in cars pose a safety problem. © IlluPics/Imago
In recent years, touchscreens have found their way into vehicles.
According to the Euro NCAP organization, this is a problem for security - they are taking action against it.
Brussels/Munich - Digitalization has also taken hold of the automotive sector.
While various functions in cockpits used to be set using buttons and knobs, these days this is often only possible using touchscreens.
That's actually astonishing: After all, using a smartphone with the same operating concept while driving is prohibited.
However, it has been proven that the risk of distraction increases vehicle safety - and a turnaround is now underway.
It should please those drivers who criticize the development of turning a means of transport into rolling computers.
Touchscreens in cars: Euro NCAP threatens to deduct points for safety
The safety organization Euro NCAP is planning a measure that aims to return to classic controls.
The long-standing finding regarding touchscreens in cars is that they pose an increased safety risk due to distraction.
In the future, car models will receive a worse rating if functions can only be adjusted via touchscreen.
The Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) is an association of transport ministries, car clubs and insurance companies that examine the safety of modern vehicles - including crash tests, the results of which are published regularly.
Touch screens and infotainment get on the nerves of many passengers anyway: many drivers prefer classic buttons instead of touch control surfaces.
Companies like Volkswagen have recently responded to criticism of the operating concepts and are again installing more switches and buttons in model series.
The Euro NCAP apparently wants to promote development and punish vehicles that deviate from this with deductions in safety points.
Recently there was a shocking report on bicycle accidents:
Vehicle safety: From 2026, Euro NCAP will rate touchscreens negatively
According to
Heise.de,
the measure should be implemented in 2026.
Euro NCAP strategy chief Matthew Avery said on British breakfast television (on
BBC
): “Bring Back Buttons” - and announced that he would develop a concept for higher vehicle safety with the manufacturers.
Specifically, this is about an area that will be included in safety assessments in the future: Human Machine Interface (HMI), which is about the usability of a car.
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The EU should not make it mandatory to abandon touchscreens.
However, if car manufacturers are threatened with a fall back in the safety rankings, they will inevitably rely more on classic controls that cause less distraction: otherwise an important sales argument would be lost, in which new models can no longer point to good safety ratings.
The development is also exciting with regard to innovative car companies like Tesla: In Elon Musk's electric cars, almost the entire vehicle is controlled via a central touchscreen display above the center console.
(PF)