just to add to this
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-car-safety-touchscreens-accidents/
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.
but I also note
"Some automakers like Volkswagen are already taking a step back from relying on touchscreens after customers complained about the new control systems. In an interview last year with
Autocar, Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said the reliance on touchscreens "did a lot of damage" to the brand."
and
"We are encouraging manufacturers to [install] direct drive and monitoring systems, and that's effectively a camera that's looking at the driver all the time," Avery said. "If the driver is distracted, the system will warn the driver to pay attention."
Similar systems are mandated for cars with driver-assisted features, but
research shows drivers remain distracted or rely too heavily on the features even when a system is in place to keep them focused, such as detecting hands on the steering wheel or eye contact with the road.