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Are touchscreens in cars dangerous?

(www.economist.com)
238 points Brajeshwar | 5 comments | 20 Sep 25 15:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.201s | source
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dghlsakjg ◴[20 Sep 25 16:21 UTC] No.45314682[source]▶
Unequivocally, yes. They are absolutely dangerous.

Anything that takes attention away from driving increases danger.

Are they more dangerous than older interfaces? My feeling is overwhelmingly yes, but I would be willing to see a study or hear arguments that some touchscreens are an improvement. A touch interface is fine (not great) as long as it never changes. As soon as you have to search for a control or menu you are dividing your attention away from driving.

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1. cramcgrab ◴[20 Sep 25 17:03 UTC] No.45315109[source]▶
Based on the data, no https://www.tesla.com/VehicleSafetyReport
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2. dommer ◴[20 Sep 25 17:09 UTC] No.45315159[source]▶
The report seems focused more on crash rates, accident involvement, rates with Autopilot / Full Self-Driving vs without, and active/passive safety systems. Has zero insight into touchscreen and their safety issues. Also from the car manufacturer not independent and isn’t without bias.
3. 4ndrewl ◴[20 Sep 25 17:21 UTC] No.45315269[source]▶
That data doesn't seem to be talking about the same thing - ie touchscreens vs physical controls.
4. dh2022 ◴[20 Sep 25 18:11 UTC] No.45315797[source]▶
I do not trust anything coming out of Tesla. If you have a third party report that would be more credible (i.e. a report not made by car companies or their customers).
5. dghlsakjg ◴[20 Sep 25 19:24 UTC] No.45316489[source]▶
The data you provided contrasts Teslas (exclusively touch screens) against all other cars (many of which also have touch screens).

It doesn’t even pretend to control for other relevant variables, and makes precisely no assertions about touch screens vs. non touch screens.

All it “proves” is that riding a mile in a random Tesla is safer than riding a mile in a randomly chosen non-Tesla.

Why yes, any Tesla is likely safer than my 1998 Lexus ES300 in a variety of ways. No, that doesn’t mean that the touchscreen is what makes it safe.