AUTONEWS

Touchscreens are the most dangerous part of modern cars

Touchscreens have become a central element of car interiors in recent years. From multimedia and navigation to climate and safety settings, they are increasingly moving to digital menus. Manufacturers are happy to present such an approach as technological progress, but new research shows that the price of this trend can be safety.

As reported by Autonews, the study was conducted by the University of Washington and the Toyota Research Institute, and the results were published in a scientific journal dedicated to user interfaces. The researchers wanted to quantify what drivers have long instinctively felt, that using a touch screen while driving seriously impairs the ability to control the vehicle.

The study involved 16 subjects who drove in a highly realistic simulator, while at the same time having to perform common tasks via the central screen, such as changing music, managing messages or adjusting settings. The scientists monitored eye and hand movements, pupil dilation and skin changes associated with stress and mental strain.

The results were very clear. As soon as attention is shifted to the screen, the accuracy and speed of vehicle handling drops by more than 50 percent, while at the same time the quality of the ride noticeably deteriorates. Lane departures have increased by more than 40 percent, and driver reactions have become slower and more uncertain. It is important to emphasize that these are basic functions that manufacturers expect to be used while driving, and not extreme distractions such as typing messages.

The key problem is not only that the screen requires eye contact, but also in cognitive load. Actions that were once performed "by heart", with a single turn of a button, now require visual inspection, reading menus and making decisions. The eyes, hands and brain are simultaneously overloaded.

The researchers do not call for a complete return to analog controls, aware that screens are cheap, flexible and attractive to manufacturers. Instead, they propose more concrete solutions and placing frequently used functions in a clearly accessible place on the screen, larger and clearer virtual buttons, and a system that recognizes the driver's high mental load and temporarily limits secondary functions.

Research strongly supports the assertion that touch screens are a highly dangerous part of modern cars, as they significantly increase driver distraction and accident risk compared to traditional physical controls. 

Multiple studies from safety organizations and research institutions have consistently found that using touch screens for basic tasks requires drivers to take their eyes off the road for dangerously long periods. 

Key findings on touchscreen dangers:

Increased Distraction Time: Studies show that tasks like changing the temperature or finding a radio station can take several seconds of visual attention away from the road. Entering a navigation address can distract a driver for over 16 seconds.

Impaired Reaction Times: Research has found that a driver's reaction time when using a touchscreen is impaired more than if they were driving over the legal alcohol limit or texting while driving.

Lack of Muscle Memory: Physical buttons and knobs can often be operated using muscle memory or peripheral vision, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road. Touch screens require full visual attention to locate and accurately press specific points on a flat, featureless surface.

Increased Lane Deviation: A University of Washington and Toyota Research Institute study found that touchscreen interaction increased lane deviation by over 40%.

Cognitive Load: Interacting with touch-based menus increases mental workload (cognitive load), making drivers less effective at both using the screen and controlling the vehicle simultaneously. 

Industry response...Safety bodies are beginning to respond to these findings. Euro NCAP, the European car safety rating organization, plans to introduce new rules from January 2026 that will deny a five-star safety rating to cars that do not have separate, physical controls for core functions like indicators, hazard lights, and windscreen wipers. 

Despite these risks, manufacturers continue to integrate touch screens due to consumer demand for high-tech interiors and lower manufacturing costs compared to physical controls. 

Autonews