Why Are Automakers Pushing Touchscreens So Hard?
You can find a touchscreen in almost every new vehicle on the market. But a new study shows that they actually make cars less safe to drive.
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
But the shift toward digital might not be so good. According to a test recently conducted by Swedish car magazine
Vi Bilägare
, physical buttons outperform digital ones, with drivers making adjustments faster and more accurately.Touchscreen troubles
Watch or read a few reviews of the new vehicles headed to dealers, and you’ll discover that car critics have their opinions about console controls.
While touchscreens become more and more popular, many in the biz still prefer good ol’ buttons and knobs for changing things like stereo volume and interior climate, especially in the ever-increasing SUV segment.
As it turns out, there are facts to back up those opinions. Vi Bilägare’s study tested controls in 12 cars of different levels of touchscreen reliance, comparing the speed it took for drivers to perform the same four tasks. The results were not kind to digitization.
The one screenless car tested, a 2005 Volvo V70, had by far the easiest controls to master, with drivers managing the four tasks in 10 seconds.
The worst-performing models had large touchscreens packed with features. The BMW iX scored the longest time of a car available in the U.S., needing over 30 seconds to complete the tasks.
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What’s driving this touchscreen craze?
Despite their negative effects on safety, touchscreens seem unavoidable in today’s auto market. Every new model available has one, and the more expensive the car, the more it seems intent on using a screen for interior controls. Tesla’s system even adjusts the car’s windshield wipers.
Their prevalence can be boiled down to two traits—they’re cheap, and they’re shiny. The more controls can be accessed through a touchscreen, the fewer physical parts an automaker needs to develop and stock, and the more it can rely on cost-saving software updates.
Car designers also like the clean look a touchscreen gives an interior over the switchgear of yesteryear, and customers can be wowed by flashy, continually updated tech, especially as the screens get bigger and bigger.
Has the touchscreen affected car insurance?
It’s difficult to get data on how touchscreens have affected car insurance premiums specifically, but coverage tends to go up as vehicles become more technologically advanced.
Opinions about the effect of tech on car safety and insurance rates have sparked debate within the industry for years. Elon Musk got so frustrated by the high rates for Teslas that he had a brand-exclusive car insurance plan developed for customers.
But other factors impact coverage a lot more than touchscreens and tech features. More often than not, the provider you choose makes the most difference. That’s why shopping with Jerry saves you so much money.
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MORE: An All-New Infotainment Screen Is Featured on the 2022 Infiniti QX80
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