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.

  • soggy_kitty@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    1·
    7 months ago

    I’m not arguing that it’s good or bad, that’s not part of my point at all. My argument is under these proposed rules it’ll be considered a button in a court

    • commandar@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      7 months ago

      From the article:

      Carmakers like Tesla which rely heavily on new tech will have to decide if NCAP’s five-star rating is worth reversing its interior design. Tesla’s latest Model 3 has force-touch buttons to activate the turn signal instead of the usual toggle — the kind of change the safety body is hoping to end.

      Call them whatever you want, they’re literally one of the things NCAP is identifying as a problem and considering in their safety ratings.