Euro NCAP safety protocols danger of touchscreens, distracted driving

Touchscreens in cars were quite a novelty when they were first introduced, but in just a few years, they have completely taken over car interiors. In recent years, carmakers have been cramming even the most basic operations into touch panels, and more often than not, the usability and functionality has gone south.

Lately, some carmakers have started moving back to physical controls, in limited ways. In fact, carmakers in Europe are actually being encouraged to stop using touchscreens for basic functions in order to enhance road safety. As per a report by The Times, Euro NCAP is set to introduce a new set of rules for crash testing in January 2026 that will require vehicles to have physical controls for basic functions in order to score a full 5-star safety rating.

1. Euro NCAP set to introduce new rules in January 2026
2. Point to be awarded for having physical controls
3. The proposition is still a work-in-progress

“The overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem, with almost every vehicle maker moving key controls onto central touchscreens, obliging drivers to take their eyes off the road and raising the risk of distraction crashes,” said Matthew Avery, director of strategic development at Euro NCAP, to The Times.

Under the new set of rules that could come into effect in 2026, vehicles will need to be fitted with physicals buttons, dials or stalks for operations such as turn signals, hazard lights, horn and windscreen wipers to be eligible for the maximum safety rating.

Tesla, for instance, has completely removed stalks for indicators and wipers on the Model S. Meanwhile, a touch panel for the HVAC controls or integrating them into the infotainment system is also pretty common these days; think of the latest Tatas, Volkswagens and Skodas in India which have a touch panel.

These systems, however, are not the most intuitive to use as users have reported. But why are carmakers pushing screens then? The answer is simple – cost. A single touchscreen panel – usually made of plastic – is much more cost effective to produce than an array of buttons and dials.

Do note that Euro NCAP testing is voluntary, and this does not in any way mean carmakers will mandatorily have to fit physical controls in cars. However, Euro NCAP is backed by several EU governments and several carmakers regularly use these crash test results in their marketing campaigns in order to attract more buyers, so it could have a wider implication. Any risk of points being deducted during such assessments is likely to be taken into consideration.

This, however, is still understood to be work-in-progress, and the exact evaluation procedures haven’t been finalised yet. Reportedly, carmakers have also been made aware of this proposition and they support it.

Also See:

BNCAP to boost car, SUV safety in India