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Are touchscreens in cars dangerous?

(www.economist.com)
238 points Brajeshwar | 3 comments | 20 Sep 25 15:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.201s | source
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jleyank ◴[20 Sep 25 16:03 UTC] No.45314479[source]▶
They're quite difficult to use without looking at them, and I've got better things to look at while driving. Better buttons that don't move and have "presence" than I can feel without looking.
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dazc ◴[20 Sep 25 16:27 UTC] No.45314754[source]▶
Physical volume adjustment buttons on the steering wheel are about the only control I feel comfortable using whilst the car is moving. Anything more complex with a touch-screen interface is an accident waiting to happen.
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1. amluto ◴[20 Sep 25 16:35 UTC] No.45314856[source]▶
What about physical buttons off the wheel? A well-designed car might have quite a few: window controls, sound system volume knob, temperature up-down, etc.

In my first car, I could operate the windows, climate control and sound system without taking my eyes off the road at all, although I had to glance briefly at the (fixed) display to see what radio station I was tuned to if it wasn’t obvious.

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2. dazc ◴[20 Sep 25 16:43 UTC] No.45314920[source]▶
Well, yes, there is the obvious stuff although I could say opening windows is not entirely simple unless I'm fully opening or closing.

Old-school radios were a lot more user-friendly with preset station buttons and a tactile volume control that actually felt like it was connected to something.

3. giantrobot ◴[20 Sep 25 16:59 UTC] No.45315056[source]▶
> What about physical buttons off the wheel? A well-designed car might have quite a few: window controls, sound system volume knob, temperature up-down, etc.

Those controls are typically on some surface of the car your hand is braced on. They're also very simple physical controls with a good amount of tactile feedback. It's hard to fuck up a simple push button window control or AC dial. Even on a bumpy road you'd be hard pressed to have trouble with such controls.