It is a trend that has become accentuated in the last decade that all car manufacturers are trying to replace physical commands, the traditional buttons, with haptic or touch-sensitive controls. It is undeniable that the interior visual is successful, conveying a heightened sense of sophistication, and there are solutions in which ergonomics and ease of use are proven to be beneficial, but will it always be the case?
It seems that replacing some buttons and physical commands can be counterproductive for road safety. This is because the principle of activating the basic functions of the car is that it is about being intuitive, not requiring great effort and minimizing the risk of distractions.
EuroNCAP alert for the perigos
In accordance with EuroNCAP, a recognized organization that tests car safety, the haptic and touch-sensitive commands, especially when controlling crucial functions such as the direction change signal, the buzzer, the hazard lights, the windshield wipers and the eCall function, we can represent a perigo increased for security.
Secondly, according to EuroNCAP studies, touch-sensitive commands can cause more distractions and confusion for users. The organization will also guarantee that, starting in 2026, any model that wants to guarantee the “5 Stars”, signaling the highest standards of active and passive safety, will have to reintroduce physical commands for the functions already referred to.
Builders reconhecem some mistakes
One of the particularities of these digital buttons is that they are activated and selected with your fingers, just as we do on a smartphone.
Although they are apparently more beautiful and intuitive for people accustomed to using these types of commands, their use is always immediate. In 2022, an experiment carried out by Swedish laborers concluded that some cars currently equipped with ecrãs and/or touch commands are slower to execute a series of tasks than models equipped only with manual buttons and switches.
Some manufacturers, such as the VW Group, have seen the public assume that the introduction of different touch-sensitive commands in various models does not correspond as expected and that it was also detrimental to the image of the brands. Instead, it now goes through a hierarchical list of functions that requires physical commands so that its use does not cause confusion, frustration or deception for users.
Although a step back does not resort to technology, this approach reveals the importance that road safety assumes among builders and in general public opinion.
In this sense, because we raise security very carefully, Help Flash allows automatic activation (magnetic), but can also be activated manually. So that you can always be certain that, no matter what the circumstances, this light can help save lives.
