Modern car touchscreens cause driver distraction, ADAC finds
kia.com
ADAC study shows vehicle touchscreens raise distraction and accident risks, with Euro NCAP planning new safety rules for physical controls.
The German Automobile Club ADAC has reported that modern vehicle function control systems are increasingly causing driver distraction. This conclusion comes from the club's analysis of car test results over the past seven years.
According to ADAC, in 2019, the average rating for vehicles in the "operation" category was 2.3, with no model scoring worse than 3.2. By 2025, the average rating had declined to 2.7, and the worst-performing car received a 4.0.
ADAC links this trend to the proliferation of software-controlled touchscreens, complex menus, and "buttons" without tactile feedback. The club's research shows that in cars dominated by touchscreens, the time required to perform actions increases. Drivers must concentrate more intensely to locate the desired function and avoid mistakes, which raises distraction levels and consequently, the risk of accidents.
Euro NCAP is already preparing countermeasures. In the future, only vehicles that offer certain functions via physical controls with direct tactile feedback will be eligible for top safety ratings. These functions include turn signals, hazard lights, the horn, windshield wipers, and the eCall emergency system.
