European car safety body is coming for touchscreens
www.politico.eu
The European New Car Assessment Programme mandates that key controls need physical buttons or switches.

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.

  • arc@lemm.eeEnglish
    252·
    3 months ago

    I think they need to be super explicit to stop the likes of Tesla weaseling out or doing the bare minimum:

    • Wipers, speed settings, auto on/off should be on a stalk for front and rear wipers
    • Indicators should be on a stalk with
    • Hazard lights must be a physical button
    • Horn may be on the wheel or a button
    • Lights on/off/full beam/dip/auto must be a dial or a stalk
    • Demister / heated window must be physical buttons
    • Gears must be a physical rocker, lever or dial

    And button / dial etc here means an actual push up/down button not some haptic / touch sensitive shit.

    Because at the moment Tesla are basically cheaping out of providing physical controls to save money. It doesn’t matter if someone crashes their car fiddling to set the wiper speed because Tesla saved $20 on a stalk and that’s all that matters.

    • spizzat2@lemm.eeEnglish
      112·
      3 months ago

      And, for the love of dog, please require that the volume knob not rely on software! I hate trying to turn down/off the radio and then wait while the car decides whether I’m serious.

      When I first start my car, the screen has to go through the boot up sequence and safety warning before the volume knob starts responding. The music starts playing right away, though, at whatever volume the previous driver deemed appropriate.

    • dream_weasel@iusearchlinux.fyiEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      Eh. I don’t think you need to specify “stalk”. I would be fine with physical buttons anywhere within easy reach. If they want to make a racing wheel that has 30 switches on it, I think I’m fine with that.

      I appreciate that SOME things don’t have buttons now: getting into a BMW with that has the same number of buttons and switches as the cockpit of an airliner is ridiculous.

    • yokonzo@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      3 months ago

      Bit pedantic but a stalk + assembly could cost closer to $200, I’m not sure about design and manufacturing though

      • elucubra@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        That may be the price if you buy a spare part. OEM for manufscturing it’ll be much lower.

        I recently had to buy a hose for my car. At the dealer it was 170€. At an online diwcout parts store it was 14€. Name brand, Gates.