Euro NCAP, the automotive safety testing organization, has announced new guidelines for scoring safety ratings that will require manufacturers to use physical buttons in basic functions starting from 2026.
Matthew Avery, the Director of Strategy at Euro NCAP, has expressed concern that excessive use of touchscreens is a widespread issue in the industry. Almost every manufacturer has moved control buttons to touchscreens, forcing drivers to look at the screen to press these buttons, making accidents more likely.
Key features that Euro NCAP will score for using physical buttons include turn signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers, horns, and other emergency features such as vehicles with emergency call features.
NCAP is not a regulatory authority with the power to enforce car manufacturers, but rather relies on scoring to support them. Vehicles with high scores are often a selling point, with Tesla receiving a rating of up to 98% from NCAP.
Source – ArsTechnica
TLDR: Euro NCAP will start scoring car manufacturers using physical buttons in basic functions from 2026 to address safety concerns with excessive touchscreen use. The organization aims to support manufacturers through scoring rather than regulatory enforcement.
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