European car safety body is coming for touchscreens. The European New Car Assessment Programme mandates that key controls need physical buttons or switches
politico.eu
Carmakers are equipping their latest models with fancy touchscreens, but that could cause problems with Europe’s largest car safety authority.
The European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) is revamping its rating system starting Jan. 1, 2026 to mandate that five of a car's primary controls — its horn, windshield wipers, turn signals, hazard warning lights and SOS features — will need physical buttons or switches.
Car models will have to comply to get NCAP's coveted five-star rating. The scheme is voluntary but is heeded by most automakers because it's closely monitored by consumers.
Belgium-based NCAP says that purely digital controls are a potential safety issue.
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aside from a rear view camera, theres no reason to have a screen in a car
Well, I like it for showing me what song is playing and to have my navigation up - but other than that - I don't want to be touching or interacting with it at all.
edit: grammar
well you could design it so, that vehicle just has a hud [heads-up display], or maybe a second passenger screen too, that way engaging with them could be more safety oriented and more aesthetic.
I for one don't want to be looking through something like a HUD when I'm driving. I also don't want a touch screen. A screen that shows me what's on the radio, my nav, and backup is fine, and it needs to have easy to identify and press physical buttons.
industry is shifting towards tesla's interior design because it's much more cheaper. advantage is that they can change it's ui with an update in future. you're probably gonna be okay with 2010's cars tho
What about the wind screen?
Listen here you little-
Hard disagree. Modern dash displays give tons of useful information that would be very hard to display legibly with dials. The flexibility they offer is good too, often having more than one dash layout. Nav screens are also extremely useful. Going anywhere and never getting lost? Get outta here.
And rear camera? Don't get me started on how a little dirt destroys your rear view until you pull over to clean it or how they represent a more difficult scenario for your eyes, increasing the amount of time you don't have your eyes on the road every time you check it. Unless you mean a back up camera and not a replacement for a rear view mirror, in which case yes those are super awesome.
I have a rear camera instead of my mirror for a few years now. I don't know what you are talking about. Never had the issues you talk about. The only time it gets dirty, is when it sits for a while out in the open. You check it the exact same as you do a rearview mirror. The only issue with them is when it's raining, but then you can turn the screen off and just use them as a regular rearview mirror anyway.
With a mirror, you do not have to refocus your eyes to a close distance and then refocus back to a farther one. The time it takes to do this is palpable and adds to the time you're not as aware of your surroundings as you could be. At 70mph, it's a lot of distance you're flying blind.
My rear-view camera only works while being shifted into reverse. Didn't even know there are manufacturers that scrapped the mirror... why would they do that?
It's not scrapped, it is mounted in it. Especially useful on transport trucks where you don't get a rear mirror anyway.
Having upcoming signs / crossing and speed limits displayed on a small screen between the gauges is something I found quite handy.
The big display in the centre console is something that's only really usefull for maps / Spotify tho, not the rest of the car controls.
Especially because I've seen cars where they die due to temperature changes.
Navigation system? Music controls? I think what the NCAP is doing here is a good thing, but this is a bit too far to the other extreme.
Phone does navigation better
I use my phone but it is connected to the car so it displays on the bigger screen. Much easier than a little phone screen in a cradle.