Prioritizing Driver Focus: The New Era of Automotive Interior Design

Stringent Requirements for Top Safety Accolades

The pursuit of coveted five-star safety ratings is set to become more demanding for car manufacturers. Despite mounting criticisms regarding car interiors dominated by large, intricate touchscreens, many automakers have continued this trend. Even Mazda, traditionally a proponent of tactile controls, has embraced a substantial touchscreen for its latest CX-5 model. However, regulatory bodies are stepping in to address this issue.

Rewarding Tangible Interfaces in Vehicle Design

Automakers who maintain physical buttons and levers for essential vehicle operations will soon receive preferential scoring in safety assessments. Carla Hoorweg, CEO of ANCAP, highlighted that elaborate touchscreen menus will negatively impact a vehicle's safety evaluation. She stated that as of next year, ANCAP's safety rating system will incentivize manufacturers to incorporate dedicated physical controls or fixed, easily accessible sections of the display for primary driving functions. Controls for critical features like hazard lights, windshield wipers, headlights, and the horn, if operated by tangible means, will contribute positively to a vehicle's score. Hoorweg underscored that embedding vital controls within touchscreens can introduce complexity and distraction. Should touchscreens house these functions, the icons must be sufficiently large and located at the initial level of the interface, not buried within submenus. This specific area of control will contribute five points to the 2026 regional safety tests.

Integrating Digital Displays with Driver Needs

The evolving regulatory landscape does not call for the complete elimination of touchscreens, nor is that the desire of most consumers. Instead, the objective is to prevent manufacturers from obscuring essential functions within labyrinthine touchscreen sub-menus. When critical controls are integrated into a touchscreen, they must be readily accessible and operable through generously sized icons. While companies like Tesla popularized expansive touchscreen interfaces, even eliminating traditional indicator stalks, other brands like Volvo have followed suit. For instance, in Volvo's EX30, tasks such as activating headlights (if not on auto mode) or adjusting rearview mirrors necessitate multiple taps on the touchscreen and steering wheel, a process that is far less intuitive and more distracting than manipulating a physical dial or switch, which allows drivers to maintain focus on the road.

The American Stance on Driving Interface Regulations

With Europe and Australia's leading safety authorities proactively addressing the challenges of distracting driver interfaces, a pertinent question arises: will the United States follow suit? The answer remains uncertain. In June, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) faced criticism from automakers like Toyota and Volkswagen, and also from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), regarding its purportedly outdated safety regulations. The IIHS specifically noted a need for stronger leadership and a greater sense of urgency from NHTSA. The U.S. has historically lagged behind other nations in adopting advanced safety testing protocols and technologies, such as cutting-edge headlight innovations. There is apprehension that this conservative approach might extend to the regulation of driver interfaces, leading to a delay in addressing distracted driving issues compared to other global regions. NHTSA's own data from 2023 indicates over 324,000 individuals were injured in collisions involving distracted drivers. It is imperative that the focus expands beyond mere mobile phone usage to encompass the broader issue of driver-vehicle interface design in the ongoing effort to enhance road safety.