Lower Screentime: Why Buttons Might Be Making a Comeback in Cars
Euro NCAP may soon require physical buttons for key functions, pushing automakers to rethink touchscreens in favor of safer, tactile controls.
A Push for Safety Over Screens
For the last decade, automakers have been on a mission to strip away physical buttons and replace them with glossy touchscreens. The logic? Fewer buttons = lower costs, sleeker interiors, and that “tech-forward” look that marketing departments drool over.
But here’s the catch: what feels futuristic in a showroom can be flat-out distracting on the road. Unlike a simple tactile button that can be found without looking, touch-sensitive controls force drivers to take their eyes off the road to adjust the AC or change the radio station. That’s not just annoying—it’s a safety risk.
Regulators in Europe have begun to take notice. According to The Times of London, the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) will soon treat the absence of physical controls as a safety concern. Starting in about two years, vehicles that want top safety ratings will need to include minimum physical inputs for essential functions.
What Counts as “Essential”?
Here’s the kicker: Euro NCAP is mainly focused on critical safety functions like:
- Hazard lights
- Turn signals
- Wipers
- SOS/emergency calls
- The horn
That means daily-use features like HVAC and media controls might still get buried behind menus and sub-menus on a touchscreen.
Why It Matters
While Euro NCAP standards aren’t law—much like IIHS ratings here in the U.S.—they carry weight. Automakers love plastering “5-Star Safety Rating” in ads, and if buttons help secure that rating, manufacturers are more likely to bring them back across markets.
It could also force companies like Tesla, which has gone almost all-in on touch-sensitive controls (even moving turn signals to a haptic button), to rethink their approach. Sometimes the old way works better.
AutoZealot Take: Buttons aren’t “old-fashioned.” They’re practical, safer, and—dare we say—more fun for real drivers. If this push gains traction, we could see a significant shift back toward tactile controls. And honestly? We’re here for it.
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