DRIVERS FACE HAVING 'TOUCHSCREEN' INSTALLED ON THEIR STEERING WHEELS

New driving technology could see motorists forced to have touchscreens on steering wheels. The shake-up could see motorists and drivers use touchscreen steering wheels and feature human machine interfaces.

ZF Lifetec is developing the tech and wants to rollout a new generation of steering wheels to “expand the design possibilities of future-oriented interior concepts”. Hands-on detection and a capacitive sensor under the leather surfaces of the steering wheel can recognise how much grip the driver is applying to the wheel.

The company is looking at developing "force-sensitive and tactile surfaces integrated into the steering wheel." It comes months after car makers were warned reliance on touchscreen-based controls is making our roads less safe, and they will have to change their ways.

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The warning comes from the independent crash test body Euro NCAP (of which the UK’s Thatcham Research and Horiba MIRA are both members) which is setting out new testing rules that will penalise carmakers if they rely too heavily on touchscreen controls.

Matthew Avery, director of strategic development at Euro NCAP, said: “The overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem, with almost every vehicle-maker moving key controls onto central touchscreens, obliging drivers to take their eyes off the road and raising the risk of distraction crashes.

“New Euro NCAP tests due in 2026 will encourage manufacturers to use separate, physical controls for basic functions in an intuitive manner, limiting eyes-off-road time and therefore promoting safer driving.” Edmund King, president of the AA, who tested the latest Tesla Model 3 last week, said: “Getting into the car late at night and pulling away felt like I had no lights on, as nothing illuminates the dash in front of you — because there isn’t one.

“Car [controls] need to be intuitive for all drivers so they can concentrate on the road ahead rather than the screen to the side. Euro NCAP has been transformative in crash protection and saved countless lives, so it is reassuring that it is addressing how design may lead to driver distraction.”

2024-06-11T15:04:36Z dg43tfdfdgfd