As the automotive industry continues to shift towards sleeker, more minimalist designs, safety regulators are pushing back against the trend of abandoning physical buttons in cars. Starting from 2026, crash test organizations in Europe and Australia will begin deducting points for vehicles that lack separate, easily operable controls for critical functions like hazard lights, turn signals, and windshield wipers.
Crash testers and industry experts say that while this new regulation won't go far enough to address their concerns, it's a step in the right direction. "The requirements won’t go far enough for many," said one expert, but added that at least car manufacturers are being forced to rethink their design approach.
The shift away from buttons is largely driven by cost and efficiency considerations. Capacitive touch modules are quicker and cheaper to install than individual buttons, which requires less wiring and assembly time. However, this approach has raised concerns about safety and driver distraction.
Physical buttons, on the other hand, provide a tangible interface for drivers that doesn’t require attention away from the road. "It’s more distracting to use touch panels," said an industry expert, highlighting the risks associated with relying solely on screen-based controls while driving.
Despite these challenges, some manufacturers are starting to respond by incorporating physical buttons into their designs. Porsche, for example, recently reintroduced buttons to its latest model after initially abandoning them in favor of touch screens.
As regulators continue to push for safer design standards, it remains to be seen whether the shift towards more minimalist interiors will lead to a return of physical buttons as a standard feature in cars.
Crash testers and industry experts say that while this new regulation won't go far enough to address their concerns, it's a step in the right direction. "The requirements won’t go far enough for many," said one expert, but added that at least car manufacturers are being forced to rethink their design approach.
The shift away from buttons is largely driven by cost and efficiency considerations. Capacitive touch modules are quicker and cheaper to install than individual buttons, which requires less wiring and assembly time. However, this approach has raised concerns about safety and driver distraction.
Physical buttons, on the other hand, provide a tangible interface for drivers that doesn’t require attention away from the road. "It’s more distracting to use touch panels," said an industry expert, highlighting the risks associated with relying solely on screen-based controls while driving.
Despite these challenges, some manufacturers are starting to respond by incorporating physical buttons into their designs. Porsche, for example, recently reintroduced buttons to its latest model after initially abandoning them in favor of touch screens.
As regulators continue to push for safer design standards, it remains to be seen whether the shift towards more minimalist interiors will lead to a return of physical buttons as a standard feature in cars.
they're just going to add more complexity and hassle to an already complicated process - who thought it was a good idea to make drivers deal with touch screens while driving?! I mean, come on, if you can't even trust people to not get distracted by their phones, why would you want them controlling everything in the car? Physical buttons are literally the best thing since sliced bread 
at least they're easy to use and don't require any fancy tech to operate - just give me a good ol' fashioned button any day!
! I mean, you can't stress enough how much physical buttons matter when it comes to driving. Touch screens are just so... touchy 
. But seriously, having separate controls is key. It's one thing to be able to glance at the screen while cruising down the highway, but when it's time to change lanes or flash your hazard lights, you need something that's gonna stick out and not distract you from the road. The new regulation might not go far enough for some folks, but I think it's a step in the right direction 
#safetyfirst #physicalbuttonsforlife
I think this is a necessary move by safety regulators, its about time they stepped in to address the potential risks associated with touch screens while driving 
. The fact that Porsche has already started to incorporate physical buttons into their designs shows that manufacturers are beginning to prioritize driver safety over cost savings 
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. It's not about going back to the old days of physical buttons, but rather finding a balance between technology and driver distraction 
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its so much better 2 have physical buttons that u can easily press w/o looking away from da road u just feel more secure n stuff 
some car ppl r like "okay, we get it" & started putting buttons back in their cars 
porsche is a great example 
. I mean, who doesn't want to be able to flash their lights without having to fumble around on the screen? It's just a more intuitive way of doing things, you know? And yeah, cost and efficiency are definitely factors, but so is our safety on the road 
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I mean, who needs buttons when you've got fingers on the wheel? 
The idea of using touch screens while driving is like trying to eat a sandwich with your feet – it's just not happening. 
But I guess it's better than nothing, right? At least they're listening to safety experts now. Maybe we'll see more cars with buttons and less distractions on the road. That'd be a win-win! 
. But still, I'm all for innovation and progress, even if it's a bit unexpected 
, ditching physical buttons is just tech playing catch-up 
it's not super hard but i get why they're worried about distraction... buttons r more intuitive imo
? I'm loving that Porsche is bucking the trend with those physical buttons tho! 