Touch screens in cars, another distraction?

Nowadays, most cars on the market are sold with a touch screen which centralizes various vehicle controls such as heating or even GPS. This technological touch is often interesting for drivers, but it can cause distracted driving, experts warn.

Screens are becoming more and more present and above all they are getting bigger and biggerobserves Martin Lavallière, professor in the kinesiology program at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC), who specializes in the ergonomics of car driving.

There are currently regulations, but they are not obligations for car manufacturers.

According to Transport Canada’s guidelines for limiting distracted driving, interactive interfaces on board vehicles should be designed to limit them to 12 seconds maximum the total length of elapsed time vision is diverted from the central visual field to accomplish a specific task.

However, this duration is often exceeded, according to Professor Lavallière, even with voice control. People will check visually: “Did I touch the right thing? When I used the mic, did it include the right information?” says Martin Lavallière by way of illustration.

Moreover, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) recently launched an awareness campaign on the importance of keeping your eyes on the road when driving.

Baptized At the wheel, we look aheadit features a distracted driver who looks at his car’s screen to change radio stations instead of looking ahead.

Distracted driving is one of the causes most often mentioned by police officers regarding accidents causing bodily harm in Quebec (52%).adds the SAAQ.

Towards a more accessible interface

Martin Lavallière believes that the disappearance or rarefaction of traditional buttons has something to do with it, because it deprives the driver of a tactile cue.

Moreover, several automobile manufacturers are adjusting to this customer concern. By email, Hyundai Canada confirms that its Hyundai Tucson now features more physical buttons for the 2025 model year.

[Nous] show agility when changes are requestedadds the company.

Across the Atlantic, the European New Vehicle Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), an organization dedicated to ranking the safety of cars sold on the European market, has looked into the issue of touchscreen interfaces.

It is recognized that poor interaction design can contribute to unnecessarily looking away from the road while performing a driving or non-driving task.indicates a spokesperson for the organization by email.

She adds that theEuro NCAP is developing a vehicle control evaluation protocol for 2026 models, which will include radio, heater and headlight controls.

Towards universal commands

André Durocher, director of community relations at CAA-Quebec, explains that it is difficult to precisely calculate the share of accidents caused by distracted driving.

We will collect data in accident reports which are submitted to the SAAQ. But there are very few people who, when involved in a collision, will tell the police: “You know, I was texting” or “I’m playing with my radio.”he says.

He believes that it should establish certain standards to limit the distraction effect caused by screens. Maybe some apps might not be available while ridingsuggests Mr. Durocher, who is also the former director of the Collision Investigation section of the City of Montreal Police Department.

He also believes automakers could learn from the trucking industry. THE [écrans] for truckers are designed in such a way that they have as little handling as possible.

Establishing clear standards would also have benefits when someone changes caradds Martin Lavallière.

This would allow people who perhaps have two cars at home or when they rent a car that the information given to the driver is in the same place, automaticallyhe concludes.