Automakers, please preserve the functionality of cars

12.3 inch. touchscreen in 2021 Toyota Venza displaying climate control settings

12.3 inch. touchscreen in 2021 Toyota Venza displaying climate control settings

Mike Doan

One of my biggest worries in life is my family and friends facing trouble on the road, especially when I’m not there. I’ve witnessed accidents with my mom and sister, and these experiences have made me more cautious about car safety.  This brings me back to the past summer when I received a FaceTime call from my mom.

  At first I was confused because my mom never FaceTimes me. Worry flashed across my face as I saw she was driving while FaceTiming me. As she was driving, her eyes off the road, she showed me that she was struggling turning on her A/C.

   I kept insisting that my mom just wait until she got home so I could show her, but she had a 47 minute drive ahead of her in 83 degree weather. After fifteen minutes of teaching her, I learned one thing: Drivers are taking much more risks when buying new cars with touch screens that mask basic functions, such as turning on the radio or toggling the A/C.

Overview

   When looking at cars that are 2018 or newer, buyers can expect to see some variation of a screen mounted up on the center dash. Since May 1, 2018, car automakers are mandated to include backup cameras in all of their cars, requiring a screen to display the view. 

   Many automakers are using this screen to the driver’s advantage, incorporating helpful elements such as phone compatibility use while driving. However, this screen isn’t meant for all functions that need to be physically accessible while driving.

The problem

   One thing that automakers need to understand is that buttons aren’t part of the past and aren’t “old-fashioned.” There is and was nothing wrong with the buttons, so there is absolutely no point in putting an all digital center console in cars. As people say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right?

My experience

   My mother bought a 2021 Toyota Venza last May, and it’s all she could ask for. The Toyota Venza is an affordable and reliable compact SUV with stylish looks, the fuel economy that could inexpensively take her on long trips, and luxury leather quilted seats. The car does have one flaw though: climate and radio controls are located on a screen.   

   Looking at the interior of the Toyota Venza, what stands out is the massive 12.3 inch touchscreen in the center of the dashboard. When I started driving, I later found out this touch screen had everything programmed inside, explaining the lack of buttons.

I took my road test in August. For the most part, the test was very easy. I nailed the parking, and the driving portion was very simple. 

   There was one point during the driving portion of my test where I was asked to turn on the radio in the car. To most people, turning on the radio isn’t a hard task, but I was using my mom’s car for the test. The car that had no easy and accessible buttons to use, but instead a huge screen that seizes your attention from the road. 

   After about three seconds of fiddling with the screen while driving, I had successfully turned on the radio and I couldn’t help but think about those three seconds. What if I had made a mistake while driving? What if I accidentally went over the speed limit? All these mistakes could’ve cost me lots of points on the test, all due to the huge, fidgety screen.

   It’s obvious that cars are in the age of incorporating technology and safety features to give the utmost comfort to the driver, but functionality for everyone should be an important factor automakers consider when redesigning cars. 

Reasons why huge screens are a bad idea

   Automakers, please don’t put simple controls that should be easily accessible through menus upon menus inside a huge screen. Can’t automakers see that a “tablet” in the center of the car could be fatal? The few seconds that drivers have their attention off of the road could lead to serious crashes, hurting or even killing innocent drivers. 

   Cycling through a touch screen while driving is comparable to using a cellphone while driving, which has cost so many people serious injuries and death. According to the National Safety Council, there are about 1.6 million crashes each year due to cell phone use while driving. 

   Using your cell phone is illegal, but a screen housing many basic and essential functions in a car isn’t? Both have the same effect on drivers: taking their eyes off  the road and directing them to a less important place. 

   Having these simple controls programmed in a “tablet” is difficult. For people who are older and have little to no experience with using technology, a big tablet style screen or touch haptic buttons will not be easy for them to use. People shouldn’t struggle with doing such simple tasks like changing the temperature. 

   Not to mention that the technology in screens isn’t always reliable. The huge touch screen, being powered by many electrical circuits, can break down at any point of time, and can be very complicated to repair. Cars featuring a fully digital center console, like the Range Rover, typically have lower levels of reliability compared to older cars, because they are filled with all types of technology that don’t serve an essential purpose other than putting cars in the shop for long periods of time.

Screens can be done right

   Screens don’t have to be banned altogether. Many cars have shown consumers the benchmark and top tier example for keeping up with modern technology and trends, while still keeping the functionality that has existed for decades now. 

   Looking at some of the most popular cars in the United States market like the Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Corolla, all these cars have one thing in common. The center dash features a small touch screen while also featuring buttons and knobs for A/C and audio controls. 

   The ease and easy access to all of these essential features has pulled consumers in for years, proving consumers value these morals over the futuristic aesthetics that can be found in specific models of Tesla’s, Volkswagen’s, Mercedes-Benz, and more.

Closing note

   As more cars get full redesigns to keep up with the current consumer buyer demographic, automakers do not need to follow trends that make their cars unrealistic for the majority buying demographic. When people drop thousands of dollars on a brand new car, the least they can expect is a safe and reliable vehicle that will take them from A to B. Not a car full of distractions.