Are touchscreens in cars too distracting for drivers?

The majority of drivers are urging car manufacturers to abandon the current trend of overly complex and distracting touchscreen systems in new vehicles.

Instead, they advocate for a return to simpler times by reintroducing buttons and switches on dashboards.

This call comes as a significant portion, three out of five drivers surveyed, admit to being distracted by infotainment displays while driving. Concerns are mounting that the recent transition to larger screens with numerous submenus and intricate controls is not user-friendly for drivers, posing a growing safety hazard.

A new report by What Car? underscores this sentiment, revealing that most British drivers desire less reliance on touchscreens and prefer cabins equipped with more traditional switches.

When respondents were asked why they preferred using buttons to touchscreens, safety and not having to take their eyes off the road were cited as the main reasons.

Participants in the study said using touchscreens took longer, while some found it difficult to press the right icons while driving.

According to the survey of 1,428 drivers, 89 percent express a preference for physical buttons, knobs, and dials in their cars, criticising touchscreen systems for being fiddly, time-consuming, and frustrating to operate—especially while driving and needing to focus on the road ahead. The poll highlights a growing dissatisfaction among car buyers with manufacturers’ emphasis on integrating complex iPad-style gadgets into their latest models.

What are your views?