European carmakers are being encouraged to stop using touch screens for basic functions like turn signals and wipers to promote safer driving.It is reported eraEurope’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) – an independent and highly respected automotive industry safety body – will introduce new rules in January 2026 that will require vehicles it assesses to be equipped with physical controls to receive a full five-star safety rating grade.
While Euro NCAP testing is voluntary, it has widespread support from several EU governments, with companies such as Tesla, Volvo and BMW using its five-star scores to tout the safety of their vehicles to potential buyers.
“Overuse of touch screens is an industry-wide problem”
Strategy director Matthew Avery said: “Overuse of touchscreens is an issue across the industry, with almost all carmakers moving key controls to central touchscreens, forcing drivers to take their attention away from the road and increasing distraction incidents risks.” Development of Euro NCAP, era. To achieve the highest safety ratings when new testing guidelines come into effect, cars will need to use buttons, dials or levers to display hazard warning lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, SOS calls and horns.
Some manufacturers, such as Tesla and Volkswagen, are known for placing basic vehicle controls behind touch screens. There’s no shortage of complaints about these features, but device makers continue to push touchscreen interfaces because they’re more cost-effective to produce than physical buttons and dials.
Euro NCAP’s safety guidelines are not a legal requirement, but car manufacturers take safety ratings very seriously so the risk of any penalty points may be taken into account during such assessments. “As this work is ongoing, we have not yet finalized the evaluation process,” Avery told reporters. edge. “However, as we have stated our intention to adopt these new requirements in 2026, car manufacturers are aware of and support this initiative.”