Increasingly modern cars with interaction based essentially on the touch screen: this is a reality in an increasing number of models in recent years.
Touch takes power in the cabin
This is especially the case for Tesla, which launched this trend of highly refined interiors since its Model S in 2012, followed by many manufacturers. So much so that a simple warning button now becomes a touch button… not very reassuring when activating the emergency lights. The management of air conditioning and heating is also usually done through the screen or touch controls, which is not very practical.
In Europe, the independent body that evaluates the safety level of new cars is sounding the alarm. Euro Ncap, which carries out crash tests and other tests, has just warned that this excess space reserved for screens and touch controls would end up being penalized when awarding the famous stars, the safety rating of new cars.
Risk of accident warned
“Touchscreen overuse is an industry-wide problem, with nearly all automakers moving key controls to central touchscreens, forcing drivers to take their eyes off the road and increasing the risk of distraction-related accidents,” said Matthew Avery, director of strategic development. in Euro Ncap to the American media Ars Technica.
“The new Euro NCAP tests planned for 2026 will encourage manufacturers to use separate physical controls for basic functions in an intuitive way, thus promoting safer driving,” he adds.
Tesla thus seems an obvious target for these recommendations from the European body, especially with the latest version of the Model 3 that has abandoned the classic turn signal switches for touch buttons on the steering wheel.
Especially since the American brand’s models are also recognized for their high level of safety and, for this reason, they received 5 stars in their evaluation. A maximum rating that Tesla will surely try to maintain.
See how Euro Ncap will concretely evaluate this aspect of maintaining physical controls and what exactly works. Enough to make manufacturers react, some of which have already started to back away from all-touch technology. This is particularly the case with Volkswagen, which recently put physical buttons back on its steering wheels.
Source: BFM TV
