In a notable shift in automotive design, car manufacturers are increasingly embracing the return of physical buttons in their vehicles. This amendment addresses serious concerns about the increasing hazards of driver distraction and the safety of our roadways. It addresses consumer cravings for more tactile controls. A 2022 study conducted by Swedish car publication Vi Bilägare determined that using physical buttons is less time-consuming than touchscreens. This underscores the need for more convenient and safer alternatives to driving.
Volkswagen, one of the world’s top-selling automotive brands, has been leading the charge. Andreas Mindt, the new design chief at Volkswagen, has talked about some impressive ideas! He’s reintroducing proper physical buttons for critical controls like volume, seat heating, fan speed, and hazard lights in their next-generation models. This decision is part of a larger trend among automakers to reconsider the user interfaces that populate their vehicles.
In addition to Volkswagen’s commitment, a survey conducted among 1,428 drivers found that an overwhelming 89 percent preferred physical buttons over touchscreens. This alarming statistic highlights the need for easier, more intuitive controls in today’s vehicles. As road safety remains a pressing concern, experts emphasize that the design of vehicle technologies must prioritize user-friendliness and driver focus.
The Safety Imperative
The value of physical buttons goes beyond just user preference. It’s strongly connected to the protection of road users. Yet in 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to report a staggering average of 112 daily roadway fatalities across the U.S. All the while, distractions made up a quarter of crashes in Europe. Steven Kyffin, a former dean of design at Northumbria University, highlighted that “motorists shouldn’t forget they are driving [potentially] deadly weapons.”
Kyffin contends that the introduction of complexity to a vehicle’s controls opens them to avoidable dangers. He added, “It’s not a phone, it’s a car,” calling for simplification and clarity in basic vehicle controls. He argues that tactile controls for critical operations—steering, acceleration, braking and lights to start—are necessary for keeping the driver engaged with the driving task.
Beginning later this year, Euro NCAP will require more of the vehicles it tests in order to receive one of their five-star safety ratings. Manufacturers will need to ensure that vital controls—like wipers, lights, indicators, horn, and hazard warning lights—are operated via physical buttons. This new initiative aims to limit distractions created by touchscreen interfaces.
A Call for Intuitive Design
From safety, infrastructure, labor and the environment, experts throughout the automotive ecosystem are calling for a return to common sense design principles. Jake Nelson, an industry expert, remarked that “basic functions, such as climate control, audio, and others, should be accessible via buttons.” He added that industry-wide changes are only possible when there is strong consumer demand urging companies to act. “Manufacturers are on notice; they’ve got to bring back buttons,” he asserted.
At the time, Edmund King, president of the UK’s Automobile Association, expressed apprehension that drivers would start getting distracted by touchscreens. “When cycling, I often see drivers concentrating on their touchscreens rather than the road ahead,” he observed. King stressed that advancing technology means improving safety—not putting it at risk—for drivers and riders.
The call for improved alignment between independent safety evaluations such as Euro NCAP and industry is just as critical. Nelson stated that while it would be ideal to see better alignment, “we have not observed much influence in either direction.” The continued conversation about driver safety is important since manufacturers continue to tailor designs to suit evolving consumer tastes.
Volkswagen’s Commitment
Volkswagen’s commitment to restoring physical buttons in their vehicles. This shift is not just about marketing. It’s a genuine response to the understanding that consumer priorities and safety come first. Mindt stated firmly that “we will never, ever make this mistake anymore,” referring to the reliance on touchscreens that had previously dominated the automotive landscape.
He clarified that future models from Volkswagen will use physical control for every car built in the future. This commitment is a step in the right direction trends seen across the industry, which prioritize driver-focused engagement and safety above aesthetic minimalism.
At its core, the return of physical buttons in cars represents an exciting industry turnaround to improving the driver experience and keeping safety first. This is from a tech company! If enough manufacturers follow suit, this can mean more positive impact on both promoting road safety and improving driver satisfaction.
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