Touchscreens vs. Safety: Why Today’s Cars Might Not Be Safer

For the past 20 years, automakers have promised that new in-car tech, from voice controls to giant touchscreens, would make driving both easier and safer. The idea was that drivers could adjust seats, change music, or take calls without taking their eyes off the road. But a growing body of research suggests that convenience and safety don’t always go hand in hand.

A recent study by Swedish safety researchers at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) found that modern vehicles are actually more distracting than their predecessors. The study, which tested dozens of late-model cars, concluded that complex infotainment systems force drivers to look away from the road for dangerously long periods, often longer than the two-second threshold considered safe.

As our own Matt Posky noted, no amount of screen real estate can fix the fundamental problem: drivers are being asked to navigate a maze of menus while piloting a two-ton machine.

The irony is that physical buttons and knobs, which many automakers have eliminated in favor of sleek glass interfaces, allowed drivers to make adjustments by feel alone. Touchscreens, by contrast, demand visual attention. The VTI researchers recommend that regulators set stricter standards for interface design, including mandatory physical controls for critical functions like climate and audio.

For now, the safest bet might be to set everything up before you start driving, and keep your hands on the wheel.