Cars that use touchscreens and buttons you cannot physically feel are becoming harder to operate, according to the ADAC. Findings from a test released by the club on Wednesday in Munich show that the vehicles assessed received an average score of 2.7 in the usability category.
In 2019, the average score was 2.3. The ADAC warns that declining usability contributes to a higher risk of accidents. The organisation stressed that the trend visible in the data is clear and not coincidental. It is linked, the ADAC said, to the introduction of new, largely software-driven operating systems that rely on touchscreens with layered menu structures and buttons lacking tactile feedback.
This increases operating times and requires drivers to concentrate more. “As a result, distraction increases and with it the risk of accidents.”
The ADAC announced that cars will only be able to receive full points in future tests if they feature buttons or switches with direct tactile feedback for specific essential functions. These include indicators, hazard lights, the horn, windscreen wipers and the automatic emergency call system eCall. Other functions must be accessible within no more than two steps in the infotainment system's submenus.
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