The Deadly Tech In Every Modern Car

Touchscreen infotanment systems are invading every modern car, but are these systems a help or a hindrance? Rory investigates the hidden dangers
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Driving car: www.pexels.com/photo/person-d...
Bottle opening in car: www.pexels.com/photo/person-o...
Iphone: www.pexels.com/photo/silver-i...
BMW 530i screen: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Nokia: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Mercedes Interior: www.pexels.com/photo/white-me...
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BMW 7 Series E38: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Laptop: www.pexels.com/photo/a-person...
Old interior: www.pexels.com/photo/gray-2-d...
Driving in the rain: www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of...
Man holding phone whilst driving: www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-w...
On phone whilst driving: www.pexels.com/photo/person-w...
Screen Interior: www.pexels.com/photo/multimed...
VR game: www.pexels.com/photo/person-p...
Forest: www.pexels.com/video/road-in-...
Man using phone in the car: www.pexels.com/photo/a-bearde...
Smoking in the car: www.pexels.com/photo/person-h...
Road at night: www.pexels.com/photo/red-whit...
Judges gavel: www.pexels.com/photo/judges-d...

[@AoyagiAichou]

It's an utterly ridiculous idea to have any sort of touch-heavy controls in a car. And yet your reviewers keep praising Tesla's cheap tablet interiors and similar.

[@Nolongrused]

Oh fuck hell no don’t

[@Indecisive7337]

The Tesla screen is huge and you don't have to squint to see it! It's not ideal I agree but at least it's bloody huge.

[@jonathanw844]

Yup! Carry on like they are I’ll be sticking to older cars

[@yaboiyosef7640]

Right? Feels like manufacturers and buyers alike have lost their minds

[@rhyswilliams4893]

It's a shame that the days of buttons and knobs are gone. Even messing with the AC in my car I can drift out of lane bit and they are simple to use. If I have to touch and navigate menus just do the same thing is just stupid.

[@daveking77]

Thank you so much for addressing the elephant in the room. The tech is particularly dangerous in unfamiliar rental cars, as I recently experienced.

[@habsom1406]

That's a great point Dev Akyuz, we assume everyone has time, perhaps weeks to acclimatise and that the car will be our own. I hadn't thought about rental cars, which must be more difficult as one rarely rents a car for just a cruise, more often it's for a specific journey or business where your mind is focused on other details outside of driving.

[@williamwatson1532]

Agree! Except that in a hire car a lot of the buttons, controls etc are unfamiliar even as just buttons or switches.

[@SteRumbelow]

YES! Been saying this for ages. The touch screens and touch buttons on wheels are becoming absolutely ridiculous. I have a 2017 Audi TT and can control almost everything without taking my eyes off the road - heating, windows, music etc. All done by muscle memory and feel. Not that I’ll ever own one, but the latest Ferrari’s and their haptic steering wheel buttons just take it to another level - you’d have to take your eyes every time to see what you’re pressing. And Tesla, almost no physical buttons and nested menus on the touch screen - just downright dangerous. And yes, I know you can control it by voice but that isn’t always practical either. [Edit] Finished the video now and glad you’ve highlighted everything I said. Something really does need to be done about this!

[@Renard998]

As someone who also owns a 2017 TT, do you not find that, although there are buttons and knobs, there are almost too many? You can get to the radio, for example through the button, through the rotary nob and also through the steering wheel buttons.

[@SteRumbelow]

@@Renard998 not really. All bases covered. I do most stuff through the steering wheel controls, unless it’s heating of course. Postcode input I do with the rotary/touch pad but that’s usually done before I set off anyway. The only poor thing about the TT is how you control Apple CarPlay - done using the scroll wheel, which is terrible for it. And it doesn’t fill the virtual cockpit screen so I tend to not use CarPlay.

[@Renard998]

@@SteRumbelow I just wish mine had Android Auto/Apple Car play full stop. Obviously wasn't optioned by the original owner.

[@SteRumbelow]

@@Renard998 have it enabled! Mine didn’t come with SatNav or anything. Absolutely ridiculous! They tried to charge me £1200 to install it (which means plugging a computer in for 30 mins). I took it to MakCoding and paid £180 for him to enable SatNav with 2021 maps, plus CarPlay and the parking sensors graphic. So worth it!

[@Renard998]

@@SteRumbelow I'll definitely look into it. There's not much that isn't optioned on it, previous own kept ticking until they met their budget which must have been high, based on the long list of things it does have.

[@andyneocleous]

so glad you've made this video! its one of the reasons I dont want a brand new car - for drivers, touch screens are a massive FAIL.

[@macflod]

Exactly. Shows what ridiculous designers must be working for car companies now. Clearly they are not drivers themselves.

[@__-fm5qv]

yup its one of the main reasons why I'm keeping my 15 year old volvo instead of getting something newer.

[@sisyphussapprentice8976]

The problem is that, if like me you drive at the "economy" end of the market, in ten years time all second hand cars on the market, will not only have all this tech you have to master before leaving your drive, but half of it will have developed a fault and prohibitively expensive to repair, yet the car won't move without it. The green loons are going to love the idea of mountains of scrap cars.

[@davezul4396]

AGREED.

[@cliffwright1970]

I agree entirely. My touchscreen needs me to have my arm almost entirely outstretched to press the "Buttons" ... if you're driving down the road, the natural undulations mean your outstretched arm is inevitably wavering up and down ... this makes it nigh on impossible to press a specific icon without really looking at the screen and bracing your hand in some way against the side of the screen .. I hate it.

[@mitch_sugardad4579]

True! The only touchscreen system I liked very much was the one in my CLA. That one has touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel which control both screens in front of you. Worked like a charm. Haven driven the Golf 8 a few times, now that was a pretty bad system to operate.

[@tadleygreen]

Absolutely right! Even for the passenger to operate the touch screen (e.g. to choose some music) is difficult for this reason. Touch screens work well on a phone because it's in your hand and on a tablet because usually it's on a work surface or you lap where it's easy and comfortable to reach and operate. A touch screen mounted vertically, some distance away, is never easy - one reason, I think, why touch screens on laptop computers haven't proved more popular.

[@macflod]

Buy older model cars until the penny drops with the manufacturers

[@jamescollins3647]

Then do not use it while driving, that's not difficult.

[@zuwik22]

Rory, one next point to your list. When you MISS on touch screen, you land in an unexpected menu - distraction goes parabolic. Witnessed it as a passenger. Felt very stressed.

[@grantlauzon5237]

Yes! Buttons can be touched without being pressed. If you miss a button you can slide your finger to the correct one. With a touch screen you need to hover. Bumpy roads make that more difficult.

[@scottfranco1962]

Sure, but nothing safety related is on the touchscreen. You don't need it to stop or steer, or even signal a turn. People need to learn to DROP it if things go wrong, ie., just friggin DRIVE. The fact that you can't get Megan Trenor to sing "made you look" is not worth dying for.

[@zuwik22]

@@scottfranco1962 You're absolutly right, although we need to face the fact that people are not willing to learn. But it's not really my point tho' - the danger is not in going to wrong menu, the danger is in distraction.

[@zuwik22]

@@grantlauzon5237 Agree! Also, if you want to use any function more than once - for example you want to adjust the fan, but not sure if by 2 or 3 clicks - you need to locate the button ONCE and keep your finger on it. Not the case with touch screens.

[@habsom1406]

That's another excellent point zuwik22, I hadn't thought of that, you're right, you can accidentally trigger another unwanted function or slip into or out off the menu you need to be in which all takes your concentration off the road ahead.

[@ps3dubbs]

Thank you! FINALLY! Someone with some bottle, addressing this issue!

[@mmtot]

Wait until gen z starts getting into upper management and CEO positions, they'll be trying to replace the f****** steering wheel with a touch screen.

[@terryrigden4860]

Absolutely right , manufacturers need to go back to physical buttons for controls

[@HugoParedes]

Finally, someone with the same reasoning as I’ve had for long. Phones aren’t okay, but trying to touch a virtual button in a bumpy road it’s fine!

[@dancroft8387]

I completely agree with your criticism. These "features" completely put me off getting anything modern; being forced to take your eyes off the road to accomplish tasks that until recently didn't require that is insane. The first time that a vehicle turned up for type approval with basic controls like heating buried in a menu on a touchscreen it should have been rejected. Why it wasn't baffles me, and it will likely be an impossible struggle to get that genie back into its bottle now that it has been roaming free for a while.

[@habsom1406]

Well if manufacturers are made to monitor drivers to ascertain where their eyes were looking at the point of an accident or impact, then that data (if it's ever allowed to surface) would reveal if these touch screens are a distraction hazard or not. They already monitor eye and head movement and warn drivers if they're dozing off at the wheel, so the technology is there right now.

[@Jimages_uk]

I'm amazed all this tech ever passed type approval. You are so right about all of this

[@rogervondach1238]

This is exactly what I am saying for quite a few years. And it's not just the touchscreens, it's just about everything that has been installed in new models. Today and with certain cars, you as a driver have nothing to do anymore. The car automatically stays in its lane, keeps the speed, slows down to keep the distance, steers itself, and so on. Therefore why do we have more accidents? Because we don't have to pay attention anymore, the electronics are doing it for us, at least until you crash! And now it's your fault!

[@Nanou197373]

Well said! I totally agree, it's encouraging people to do something else whilst driving and it's not a good idea

[@georgemalek5068]

Great discussion Rory. Totally agree. The all screen phenomenon may look nice aesthetically. But a bunch of key knobs for basic things like volume , heating/ cooling etc are definitely better. Additionally. Heads up should also become a key feature in all cars. Helps keep your eyes ahead for the basic things like speed and even directions.

[@macflod]

There is a place for aesthetics an a car dash isn’t it

[@scottfranco1962]

Why are knobs better? Because they are always in the same place? A good touchscreen interface can do the same. It comes down to proper software design and driver training.

[@habsom1406]

@@scottfranco1962 As Cliff Wright has mentioned in the comments above, he has to have his arm outstretched and the undulations of the road mean his finger wavers over the icons and makes it difficult to hit the right 'button', he hates it. So even if the software was improved no amount of training could compensate for a flawed premise/process. A physical knob can be located by touch, feel, muscle memory and a finger held upon it until ready to initialise whilst keeping your eyes on the road throughout. A touch icon once touched is instantly initialised and one is committed even if you've accidentally pressed the wrong icon, there's no opportunity to pause whilst your finger is touching the icon. In my ancient BMW the knobs are different shapes and never move about, they're always in the same location and the rocker switch tells me it's the light switch, the round knob tells me it's the heater control and they can all be operated in the dark if need be.

[@chrisV8]

Finally somebody saying what I’ve been thinking all along. Screens aren’t fancy, they’re a saving for manufacturers

[@markembling]

Absolutely agree with this. I would definitely make purchasing decisions based on the physicality and ease of use (or lack thereof) of key functions in the car. Touchscreens are fine for some things but putting everything into it, including things you are most likely to use whilst on the move, just seems stupid. Physical buttons and knobs definitely have a role to play. Ineos understood this when they put together the Grenadier interior.

[@richardhowlett9424]

Thank you Rory ! You’ve got the guts to say what I’ve been saying for years only to a vastly bigger audience. Touchscreens are the work of the devil , and haptic controls are worse! I couldn’t figure out how to change radio station on a bloody Corsa ! Had my attention taken and eyes off the road trying to work it out . I’m keeping my old Honda for ever .

[@Bmontepeque11]

I TOTALLY agree, I see why tech and touch things are more convenient but they only work of you're stationary ☺️ When you don't have to be aware of your sorroundings constantly, I've always said there should be legislation that limits the use of touch screens (Not prohibit, mind you since some things do are simpler with a touch screen but at the very least Radio, Driving Modes and HVAC controls should be hard buttons.)

[@john1703]

Rory said it cannot be stopped. Of course it can. New combustion engined cars will be illegal in 2030. Now do touch screens.

[@macflod]

@@john1703 yeah they could bring in legislation to stop future models still being insanely designed.

[@richardwillson101]

I remember the first car that I drove with a touch sensitive, zero feedback climate control panel... It was lethal. You have little choice but to look at where tou are touching, not only to ensure you press the right thing, but to confirm that it had done what you asked. There were times when I was too hot/cold but didn't want to adjust anything, and times when I had to risk taking my eyes off the road. Bring back big round rotary controllers and large "positive feedback" buttons. I had a 2004 BMW 5 series with the small screen I drive, it was an absolute dream. Operating it whilst driving was easy as it was in an ergonomic position and the screen was close to the windscreen if you had to look. The ultimate solution of course is steering wheel controls and information displayed in the area of the speedometer. Why this fell off as the standard to large touch screens, I have no idea. VAG got it right 2010+ in many of their cars, small screens, simple buttons, common layouts between variants and brands, although keeping a unique look for each. This touch screen nonsense needs to stop, now I drive a van and am sested higher, I see many Tesla drivers fiddling with their giant screen as they pass, so much so that its clearly distracting not only them, but me too 🤣

[@BillyBanter100]

It's all about making cars cheaper to produce while hiking the cost to the buyer. Car makers couldn't care less about the consequences until we vote with our wallets.

[@swizzler68]

Rory I agree 100%. My current car, a 2020 KIA Xceed does have a touch screen, but thankfully it's for sat nav, media, and the car settings. If I need to turn on the heated seats or increase the temperature in the car, etc- it still thankfully has physical buttons. So it is still easy to use and drive. Although I imagine every car manufacturer as you mentioned will go down the touch screen way of thinking. I think my next car will be a slightly older model, as I really do not like the touch screens in modern cars.

[@lonyo5377]

One of the reasons I got a Ceed too

[@forestpagan4813]

Unfortunately the new business model for pretty much all manufacturers is for subscription based options. Much more profitable than having to build cars to customer spec's

[@macflod]

@@forestpagan4813 are subscriptions for minimum terms?

[@forestpagan4813]

@@macflod as far as I understand, if you order a car with say, heated seats, it would come with so many "free" months, then it would cost you a monthly payment to keep those options... Kind of like what Microsoft has been trying to do with windows products.

[@macflod]

@@forestpagan4813 yeah i just had to subscribe to Microsoft. I know its more profitable for them as they generate a monthly income stream rather than a single payment once ever 5 years or something but its kinda of annoying the amount of thing forcing subscriptions now. If you could say pay for heated seats only on months you needed it then great. But if it forces you into a self renewing 12month minimum contract year on year with 48hour cancellation window then it sucks. We buying a product not a service at the end of the day. In my opinion if they go down this line then- Car costs new should be lowered to reflect the fact that you have ongoing monthly payments too and if your heated seat breaks they should fix it for free if you paying a subscription. If you buy a 10 year used car i assume the subscriptions still need to be paid. So they need to provide better free servicing as the car id their cash cow now not really the owners

[@tdmap2241]

I love the knobs and buttons in my car. Having to dive into a menu just to activate seat heating is not just ridiculous, it is dangerous

[@25myma]

Great, great points!!! Seriously, we're at a point when tech is making things worse just so that car companies can squeeze every penny. From touch screens to keyless entry, it all makes cars less safe and easier to steal, I genuinely feel stressed when driving some of these new cars with stupid menus, just feels wrong.

[@tanner1ie]

This is one of the reasons I love Mazda, in particular the 6, sure they've been continuously refreshing it since the third gen came out nearly ten years ago and indeed I remember Carwow's Mat Watson making fun of the fact the 6 still has a CD player about two years ago, but the "old fashioned features" in them are things many of us still want and indeed the 6 is still my favourite "normal" car and the only one I really want to buy! 😯😀🤘

[@jonathanellis1842]

Another Mazda fan, I have for years owned a VW - Seat and Skoda, the only other manufacturer owned over the last 20 years is Mazda. My current 2017 Skoda does have proper buttons for heat and other stuff, I have come to the conclusion that My next car will be a Mazda again as the VW group has gone touchscreen mad and I like Rory think this is total madness.

[@Barbarian75]

CX-30 here (after C5). Love the knobs and lack of touchscreen.

[@TheGillederais]

Ive been watching videos about cx5 for research before i buy one, and if you go to comment section, for certain you will find ppl complain the lack of touchscreen, some of them even commented its a deal breaker.... I own cx5 now and all I can say is the knob is very intuitive, you can search n look for songs on spotify while driving, cant do this on a touch screen.

[@Manbou141]

Yep one of the reasons I actually went with a Mazda3 over a Kia Ceed

[@Tasari0n]

Same here! Love my Mazda 3 from 2017. Everything can be controlled with buttons or the main knob on the console. And the concept of no fingerprints on screens is so wonderful.

[@paulvansteenberghe4644]

I agree, touch screens are fine for things you don’t need while driving, but I’ll take buttons, knobs and sliders for heating, cooling, radio, …

[@leobats14]

Absolutely fantastic informative video as always. As for touch screens in the car I’ve never thought it to be a good idea especially when they are now moving the most basic functions within the infotainment system. Eyes on the road not the screen.

[@erasmus9627]

Thank you Rory, for this critically important video. Touchscreen madness is ruining modern cars and making them much more dangerous to drive. It’s shocking that safety regulators are ignoring this problem. I refuse to buy a car without physical knobs for volume and air conditioning - which means my choices of car are now very limited. Hopefully, there will soon be a backlash against these horrible touchscreens and car manufacturers will start to reintroduce physical controls. I note that VW recently announced it will remove the terrible haptic buttons from its steering wheels and revert to physical buttons again. It’s only a small step forward, but it’s a start.

[@WhynotMinot]

I agree. I'm not in the market for a new car, but having touchscreens and all the new tech, is the biggest reason why I never want a newer car. I am daily driving a '96 jeep xj, and while I like knobs better, the sliding feature for the climate is still better than any touchscreen. The only screen in my jeep is a small digital clock, and that's all I need. There's no digital screen for my gauges, no digital screens for any climate controls, and I do just fine. Many people say that this newer tech is way safer because of emergency braking and lane assist, but most of those cars have touchscreens and impractical interior designs. Just keep it plain and simple, to keep the driver aware of what they're doing, since there won't be a bunch of tech or a dozen buttons on the steering wheel to distract the driver.

[@trance_trousers]

Absolutely! I bought a Toyota Aygo X recently and I'm pleased to say that it still has physical buttons and knobs for volume and heating. Unlike my previous Skoda Fabia, where the heating controls were buried in the touch screen's menu. Not only is it more difficult to use but it's downright dangerous.

[@davidjeffery7728]

Great video until the end, when he stated that screens are here to stay and we just need to get used to them, this is a ridiculous thing to say if touch screens are proven to be unsafe when used on the move - regulations would stop manufacturers ability to sell products. Bigger question is who allowed the introduction of this tech in the first place, international motoring regulators need to get a grip, as lack of concentration is now a bigger killer than speed on the latest statistics

[@AutoTraderTV]

So… they’re not here to stay?

[@davidjeffery7728]

@@AutoTraderTV what a ridiculous reply - touch screens that prove to make the driving of a motor car more dangerous, should definitely not be allowed under legislation, buttons have been proven to be more safe, and surely safety should be the number one concern, not whether we think a touchscreen monitor looks cool in our cars. Lack of concentration is now the biggest cause of accidents, and if reducing that means losing touchscreens in favour of a backwards step, so be it. A car is about safe transport from A to B not sending your mate a text message.

[@hoodlum1107]

@@AutoTraderTV yes here to stay until legislation forces the manufacturers to make changes.

[@unknownu8430]

Seriously true. Touch screens without any other physical knobs or switches are very annoying and dangerous. I look at the screen in my car only during reversing and navigation(mostly rely on audio suggestions by Google girl 🙂) to unknown places.

[@t2216]

I personally like dials and buttons not screens. Im an engineer and work with computer every day - last thing I want see when driving is another screen. Specially when it is very sunny weather or dark. I drive same BMW 330Ci for past 10 years already, have driven many new cars, some from same make also and I still like the one I got more. I am in 30s so I am not some old guy who hates tech and tought all was better in good old days :D

[@Cdr_Mansfield_Cumming]

I agree with you 100% Rory. When I test drove a Ioniq last year, my first reaction was how much more dangerous it is just turning the heater on. How many lives will be ended because manufacturers want to save money? With the buttons and knobs in my current car, I know where each is, what they do, how much I have to turn, press or slide. Far more sensible, far safer.

[@metube9541]

Absolutely, I now ask the passenger to change heating controls and sat nav. The Ioniq 5 is fairly dangerous to drive if you need to adjust anything on the move.

[@chow-chihuang4903]

It’s not the elegance of design. The elegance evaporates as soon as you interact with the interface. It’s the cost savings of a single touchscreen versus multiple buttons and knobs.

[@NebraskaGonvilleJones]

Wholeheartedly agree. Far too much effort has been removed from the business of actually driving a car. We all share the roads, stop sharing your time with a touch screen instead of the responsibility we all have for all road users.

[@habsom1406]

Well said Nebraska Jones, I totally agree with you. 👍

[@gregoryuk]

'Knobs Save Lives'. Hold up. Knobs create lives, right? I'm confused now.

[@carultch]

Different kind of knob.

[@JFW5358]

I completely agree. I hate that nearly all the controls in my Seat Leon have to be dealt with via the screen. It was lovely to have a (new) loan car today - an Ibiza - that had lots of knobs and buttons.

[@davelloyd8454]

Absolutely agree. My 2018 skoda has physical knobs for the heating. I know where they are and can feel each increment of adjustment. The audio system on the other hand takes ages to use (so I mainly use voice control through Android auto)

[@dougsaunders8109]

Even harder when you are in an unfamiliar vehicle, new, rented etc. Back in the day the saying familiarise your self with the controls was always talked about. Imagine that now sub menu three on the fourth screen, what does that control? 😮

[@Elkott]

I'll stick with my old banger, cars are becoming like phones, throwaway tech

[@01avensis]

Totally agree. I was reading about a new car launch in States. To open the glove box you have to go into a menu on the touchscreen, And the car has to be stationary to access the sub-menu. Madness!

[@waynerussell6401]

opens automatically in a crash and by voice control otherwise one place in the car that is secure.

[@neilbucknell9564]

Well said Rory. it's about time a lot more was said about this issue. One body conspicuously silent on the issue is the Consumer Association (aka Which? magazine). For years they have been slating cars that do not make a full NCAP 5 star rating, but here's something that will be causing accidents in the first place, not increasing the chances of a worse outcome if one occurs.

[@ibs5080]

Brilliant video and you echo exactly what I've though for a long time about all this new car tech. Fortunately I have an old school car. Nice bit of humour in your video too btw!

[@ZedsDeadOK]

Totally agree specially on British roads trying to make selections on the screen when going over pot holes is nigh on impossible.

[@hsimpson1152]

Love this kind of content. Your car's infotainment system is just like your phone. It is even more dangerous as you are propelling a vehicle down the road at speed. Simple options buried in menus borders on criminal for some of these manufacturers. These dash tablets I'm sure become projectiles in the event of a crash. Lastly, subscriptions are coming. Prepare your wallets.

[@jrw366]

Rory, once again, you’ve knocked it out of the park with this one, salute! As you’ve jokingly said, don’t stop…don’t stop Sir.

[@Rivenworld]

Totally agree with this, brilliant video, thanks for sharing.

[@SarahJonestoo]

Spot on! So much good sense here. Thank you. One of the good things about the Renault Zoë is that the heating and many of the cabin functions are controlled by physical switches and dials. Easy!

[@amaljoe367]

I bet it is cheaper for companies to put every controls in a touch screen rather than providing individual buttons.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

It’s always been a ‘no’ from me to touch-screens in cars. I like to press buttons and twiddle knobs and dials.

[@ENGBriseB]

Keep looking where you're going. Well done Rory.

[@TheSar]

Love your work Rory. Totally agree - this middle ground of some automation and tech and some manual attention is the most dangerous tranisition. Either, fully autonomous, or fully manual attention in my opinion. Half in half out is deadly.

[@mps2112]

I've always preferred having more basic interiors. I've got everything I need in my '04 Mx5

[@MegaWilderness]

I love that car, they should make an electric version.

[@mps2112]

@@MegaWilderness Hmm I'm not sure it would weigh quite a lot then which goes against the entire point of the Mx5

[@MegaWilderness]

@@mps2112 Tesla Roadster managed

[@mps2112]

@@MegaWilderness it weighs 300kg more than an Mx5

[@MegaWilderness]

@@mps2112 We'll need to help it along using carbon fibre then.

[@long_view]

Thanks, Rory, your usual precise, concise analysis. Most touch screens look like after-market add-ons and may look cool to their designers but in reality do little for cabin aesthetics. I note that VW is redesigning its ID3 and ID4 driver interfaces to replace the ridiculous touch screens with buttons! In the meantime I'll stick with my MB S212 with its knobs, buttons, switches, rotary controllers and levers. And you don't need a screen the size of a TV for satnav.

[@habsom1406]

I totally agree Rod Craig, these touch screens often look like an afterthought and spells of lazy design or non-car enthusiasts doing the designing. Always wonder if a toddler could wrench them off the dash. Even where the touch screens are integrated into the dashboard, it still means drivers have to take their eyes off the road ahead to seek confirmation that they've pressed the correct icon.

[@Nanou197373]

"Knobs save lives" haha!! Brilliant!! The day the screens malfunctions or doesn't turn itself on, the car becomes undriveable. Adding to the concerns below is that the gigantic consoles that invade newer cars are placed in the center, forcing the driver to look down, therefore not even glancing at the road at all. There should be regulations in place to force manufacturers to place the screens upwards at least, close to the windscreen.

[@elanthys]

That’s something that played a lot in my choosing the Citroen C4 last month: physical A/C buttons! Plus I can control the volume with the buttons on the wheel, so at no moment do I need to get my eyes off the road… not even to check my speed thanks to the HUD! Citroen really listened to customers on that one and I’m very happy they did. And the C4 is comfy as hell too… Great car.

[@tadleygreen]

Yes - it's absolute madness. On my Octavia Mk 4 TSI, I rarely listen to the radio or music because to get from my usual display (CarPlay) to media and back is almost impossible while driving. Even simple things like switching on a seat heater often require two looks away from the road - one to find the on-screen button, and then a second look to see if it's come on because the response to the touch is so slow. I seem to remember, back in the 1960s, the Rover 2000 had a row of knobs for lights, wipers etc., that were deliberately designed to be different shapes so that you could easily find the right one by feel, without looking. How have we gone from such safety-orientated ergonomics to what we have now, I wonder.

[@tanner1ie]

Indeed I had an Octavia as a rental car earlier this year and it had so many automatons, it felt like it was driving itself! (One of the worst things was the automatic handbrake, while it was also very annoying having to put my foot on the clutch to start the engine, while I literally couldn't find how to put the car in reverse without looking it up online - pushing down on the gearshift?! - Wow, felt like I'd break it! 😯😂😀🤘

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Too many silly gadgets in modern cars - one of the reasons why I drive a 10yr old car! Much prefer the more simple controls compared to the 2018 Audi A6 I drove previously.

[@leumas75]

My 2020 Audi Q5 has just about the perfect level of screen (non-touch) vs knob/switch interaction. Everything beyond this level that I have tried (which all include a touchscreen) take too much of my attention off of the road, and I drive daily in Houston, TX traffic, which is either 80+ mph or crawling. I love being able to use Apple’s CrPlay, but I only use it with voice commands.

[@reepham39]

Great subject thanks

[@dontuno]

Well said and explained Rory. Funny enough, I have a Lexus with the track pad and it's very good at NOT distracting you. Basically it's so involved you need to do everything BEFORE you set off given you can't do it on the move and hence you give over 100% attention to the road! In absolute fairness, my Lexus also provides the most common buttons, further improving one's attention. It really is quite worrying way too many drivers are distracted by tech but then again speed camera's or their possibility distract me even more!

[@davidmwood560]

I absolutely agree; I've lost count of the number of new and new-ish cars that have been all over the road while the driver 'plays' with one or more touch-screens. I drive a 2006 Lexus GS300 and it has very simple controls consisting of buttons and one touch-screen. Fortunately, my car also has a very good voice-command system that covers almost everything, complicated or not. Lights and wipers are permanently set to 'automatic', so all I have to do is concentrate on actual driving safely. My previous car was a Toyota C-HR; also with voice control. We all know that most modern cars have a voice system, some very good and some not. I believe that we have an inadequate driving test system in the UK; which in turn accounts for a lot of terrible drivers with an appalling lack of roadcraft skills. Meanwhile, our lame excuse for a government just flounder about without a clue. TIME FOR CHANGE Happy - and careful - motoring everyone

[@ZoidPickle]

Hi Rory, lobbying is the simple answer. During the 80s, car stereos with screens, By law, had to fold away or go dark, while Driving. The car industry lobbyists changed That. Well that, and large sums of money most likely. I have only ever bought 2 new cars. I still own both of them. Cars have become Extremely boring with these haptic surfaces As you said. All a bit same same.

[@hristijanmicevski5685]

Rory, what can I say except that you are absolutely right!!! Bravo....

[@billmmckelvie5188]

Ideally you should be at one with your car and those of us who have been reps in our cars appreciate not being disturbed on our journey! I always set up my music playlist before I go and I will answer the phone when I get to my destination. I have found in the past when I used take calls, 50% of them I could not do anything to solve a problem until I returned. Other than a Sat Nav do I really need any other tech? No!

[@slackpantz2628]

Couldn't agree more!! Far more dangerous than switches n buttons and the danger is amplified in a lorry 10 fold

[@danmayberry1185]

Legislation will never keep up with tech. Screens don't kill people (says the gun lawyer). Buttons work on muscle memory, minimizing distraction. Up the knobs.

[@kenevanchik4478]

Perhaps even worse than the distraction of touching these screens is the sheer amount of glare they can put into the driver's eyes when driving at night. Many infotainment screens I've seen do not auto-dim like instrument gauges do, and some don't seem to have settings to lower the brightness. I had a rental car one time that did this, driving down a winding, remote road in Iceland in heavy fog, and I swear that screen nearly killed me.

[@magicunicorn6535]

Good point! I operate the buttons in my old car by feel, without looking at them. You can't use a touch screen without looking at it. Making it giant, like so many cars have now, is a huge distraction. I'm glad I drive an old-school, analog car from the previous century.

[@dingbatt]

As a Model 3 owner, one of the first accessories I added was a HUD. It displays primary info in front of me rather than having to look to the centre display. I know Musk doesn’t like them in his push to full autonomy, but I wish there was an officially supported aftermarket HUD option. Using voice commands is often hit and miss due to my (NZ) accent. I would be willing to sit in my car for a couple of hours and train it if that was an option. However, the Tesla’s sparse interior means the few buttons and scroll wheels on the steering wheel and the stalks on the column can be operated without taking your eyes off the road. That is often not the case with cars that have up to 20 buttons on the wheel and 3 or more stalks.

[@davidgalt8107]

Absolutely on the nail! Simple solution, instal an interlock so the touchscreen will not operate while the vehicle is in motion.

[@trevorb5978]

Great video. Thank you. Saw a review of the new USA VW Golf replacement called the Taos. Turny knobs and buttons exactly like those in my Kodiaq. I switched to Skoda exactly because they have not adopted the slidy touchy controls found in VW cars

[@thespicepatel]

Yes!! So true! Honestly physical buttons on the steering wheel different menus and scrolling was the peak. Keeps you looking forward and both hands on the wheel. I wonder if the HUD could be made mandatory

[@iankuah8606]

Thanks Rory, that just about sums up what so many car enthusiasts and normal drivers have been saying!

[@ManfredvonHolstein]

All very much agreed. I guess what we have to hope for is more automation - car stopping or avoiding by itself when driver is distracted, car monitoring whether driver is distracted, etc. Maybe these sorts of features should become mandatory very soon!

[@Selfation]

An Excellent Report Rory ...

[@briansteele2723]

Great that you guys finally made.this video, touch screens to do basics such as turn heating up or volume down are ridiculous and distracting. Also the cars from 2005 or 2010.didnt go out of date as quickly as the latest iPhone...

[@Account1746]

Can’t touch a phone but can touch multiple sub menus to change the temperature to on a massive screen in the car 👍🏽👍🏽 makes sense

[@nevarran]

The logic there is that when using a car's screen you have your hands free. While if you hold a phone, you can't quickly grasp the steering wheel if needed. Most people's instinctive reaction would be to try and steer without dropping their phone. The distraction issue is still there for both though.

[@phuketexplorer]

Apart from the arguments in the video, LCD screens have a typical life span of 5 - 10 years at most, meaning most new vehicles being driven out of showrooms now will be beyond economic repair when they fail.

[@bhillson]

This is what they want, same as electric car batteries

[@wicksp335]

Well said Rory! In my old car, I felt for the button, but now I have to look at the screen, can't just feel. One car making a phone call on the move is downright dangerous, as you need to change the screen back to a menu, select phone, then the recipient from a list...takes a lot of attention away from the road. Head up display is good for speed (and current limit) and nav. Even with a passenger, it's distracting giving instructions so they can do things for you on the screen. Manufacturers need to be told: don't remove the buttons, or at least have multi-function controllers as an alternative way of doing things. Excellent video!

[@oonwing]

BRILLIANT!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

[@wilkoone9155]

I fully agree with you, which is why I think that Citroen are heading in the right direction. All we need is a good holder for our smartphones coupled with voice commands. So many people complain about the cost & weight of BEVs I also think they accelerate too quickly. Way to go Citroen.

[@GudieveNing]

6:32 Spot on mate. I'm a UX designer and have test driven all recent EVs. Haptic buttons and touch screen based controls for HVAC and other frequently used features are a nuisance and barrier, Ariya in particular, pity, its a lovely car. Tesla are slightly different in that their autonomous features allow you to take your eyes off the road momentarily whilst you adjust something. I could do that in my 2018 Nissan Leaf when ProPilot was engaged. Auto braking is there to kick in if you do zone out. Either way, Tesla and others need to bring back knobs.

[@moony2703]

So glad you highlighted the point that phones are being banned in cars but massive screens _aren’t_ ??? I have a car so old that it has a tape player in it and use my phone for everything and I was looking forward to getting buttons whenever I bought a new car so I could actually turn on or skip podcasts etc. while driving instead of just having to set and forget on a trip, or try to walk my passenger through using my phone and various apps on an unplanned emergency long distance trip when my audiobook download decided it was invalid… not fun. And now in new cars it seems like safety and functionality is going backwards. I’m not sure if basic functionality and safety for these things is included in safety ratings but it seems like it really should be. Also there is nothing more distracting than tech not working the way you want it too when it could have been a simple button press.

[@SP-sl6dj]

I’ve thought about this. I appreciate the physical buttons in my EQA for heating, volume/track control etc. I don’t really have to take my eyes off the road for any of that.

[@GeordieDashCam]

Totally agree, I'm going to keep my 2015 diesel, no touchscreen, 42MPG, I'd like to move to electric but can't physically operate a centre console touchscreen.

[@Trevorfoggia]

Nobs have been around since Adam and Eve, fiddling with your nob whilst driving was never illegal but I think touch ‘up’ screens should be. They are damn right dangerous. Especially if you have to change climate control settings because your windows are steaming up, and no, not because your fiddling with your job - you no longer have one. We all know how simple it is to use one’s nob, a quick touch, flick, turn or press and it is done. Job done. Voice command! It doesn’t always work. I’ve got a TomTom unit in my car and to wake it up I have to say ‘hi tommi’. Believe me, I call it a lot more names than just that. My wife laughs and I get more annoyed. Nob Party, help me out here.

[@GHOOGLEMALE]

Excellent points, all of them! It makes perfect sense and I'm nervous about using them myself, wandering in the lane is a real issue here. Most car reviews always refer to the lack of tactile, fixed controls for basic functions and are usually critical of these screen based systems - Why do manufacturers choose to ignore these skilled reviewers - Cost ,and as they see it , prestige for less money than the buttons. I hope they listen to this, I hope the Gov takes note - it requires legislation to control systems that are not voice controlled or physical button controlled for simple features like wipers, lights and heating

[@KevStevens-Music-Drums-Art]

Brilliantly said, Rory. I have a 2015 Citroen C1 with a touch-screen that irritates the life out of me for exactly this reason. If I want to change radio station, my eyes are off the road for as long as it takes to see what I want to listen to next. Mostly it's off altogether. Now in my mid-60s I need to focus far more on my driving as my decision fluency and reflexes are not what they once were.

[@gav10001]

OMG: Finally someone has dealt with the elephant in the car I've been confused and annoyed about for years; thank you Rory! How long before the police start monitoring the car's tech usage; that'll put the cat amongst the posh pigeons.

[@totsophillips1969]

I talk to my car in my car all the time plus it's just like singing along to a song on the radio. I don't think it's embarrassing.

[@erebostd]

For some things gesture control is really nice. If i want to hear the next (or previous) song/audio book chapter, i just wave. It’s easy, i dont need to press a button or talk to the car, and i don’t need to look. Works amazing and isn’t distracting. I think the combination of speaking, using buttons, using a touchscreen and using gestures is key. Something for every situation, and some to use if you can’t be distracted.

[@maanmallak8953]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH 🌿🌹

[@grahamkay6142]

I'm curious to see how long a screen lasts compared to a knob ?

[@joelzylstra2971]

For as long as I’m thinking about screens, my knob can last indefinitely! 😂

[@nevarran]

I doubt there will be an issue there, screen are quite durable. The issue may come if forced over the air updates start making your system slower, like they do with the phones.

[@DC3Refom]

​@@joelzylstra2971Exactly my 2004 corolla T3 3 door all the buttons and knobs are in great working order

[@bl8danjil]

Absolutely agree. The excessive touchscreen use and hiding controls within other menus is absurd. Auto manufacturers should take more inspiration from fighter jets with the HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) and HUD (Heads Up Display) to reduce the distraction and help keep the driver focused on driving. I also have at least 2 other gripes with the newer vehicles on the road in the USA. One is vehicles not having amber turn signals and using the same red brake light as the turn signal and hazard lights. And the other are the led headlights that end up blinding other motorists. They either have no cut off beam height or it ends up shining onto the oncoming traffic side of the road because they are too bright acting more like a floodlight. The latter is more due to the colder color temperature akin to daylight and ends up causing other driver's pupils to restrict and diminish their ability to see in low light until their eyes readjust afterwards. It would help if the headlight color temperature were warmer. At least then the harshness isn't as bad and the eyes can readjust faster. Plus, warmer tints help cut through fog and rain better over the white or bluer headlight tints. High beams can still be daylight color temperature though.

[@See_more....]

I've been saying this for a long time. I absolutely HATE touch screens in cars, and neither of my cars has one. I like physical buttons for controls, and as I'm now in my mid 50's I can probably get away with never buying a car with a touch screen. My Daily car is a 2001 XJ8, and my weekend fun car is an 89 XR4x4. Both immaculate, and both great fun. Manufacturers can poke their screens where the sun doesn't shine.

[@chrisstrong8429]

totally agree. More people need to think about this

[@captainwin6333]

The problem with touch screen is as you're driving, you hand and finger are waving around as the road undulates. Cars should all come with a number of programmable buttons that you can set up for your most used functions such as changing the temperature, fan speed, airflow direction. I have the 2022 Seat Leon and to change the airflow to window, face or feet I have to go into the display menu. Another annoying thing about it is lane assist is always on by default, you can't switch this shit off for good.

[@ianelliott229]

👍VAG designers have gone nuts. I’ve a 2019 Leon (which has physical controls for aircon) and decided not to get the new model for the very reason you describe.

[@alastairharris1866]

I quite like the idea of a car that is simple to operate, takes a couple of minutes to "recharge", and doesn't try to boss me about. If it comes with a rocket launcher and a passenger ejector seat then all the better.

[@pete9397]

100% agree, the size of touch screens are rediculous and must be more distracting while driving at night. Drivers need to drive, if you want to swipe a screen and use apps stay at home.

[@ericrawson2909]

This started decades ago. I had a Ford Granada and the radio had volume bass and treble knobs. Then my next granada had ditched the bass and treble and it involved lots of jabbing at buttons. Bloody infuriating.

[@dgg7377]

Touch screens are a massive retrograde step and really dangerous - I didn't appreciate this until I got a car with most functions operated through a touch screen!

[@KenEdwardsz]

It's not just about touchscreens being distracting but also the fact that more people are right handed and on UK cars the touchscreen is operated by the left hand. I made a comment on a YT video about the new Golf a while back about how older less tech savvy people will cope with the new technology (I was lambasted by the keyboard warriors) not everyone has a smartphone, I work with a guy the same age as myself (57) who doesn't use a smartphone or the internet, he would struggle with a new car. Also what about disabled drivers, say someone has a prosthetic left arm how will the touchscreen work with that. What happens when these devices fail? The car will be useless, you will not be able to use your heating controls! How is that a good thing? There are more downsides than upsides to touchscreens and safety has to be the biggest concern.

[@asthenewt]

I agree entirely with you Rory. I love my knobs, buttons and switches, they are all at hand and I dont need to look at them to use them. I really think interactive screens with all controls built in are a BAD idea, period.

[@garethjones2746]

I agree, I find even my built in sat nav dangerous at times. We don’t need so many buttons whilst we are driving.