According to a recent report by an Australian TV show, A Current Affair, from 2026, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), which provides ratings for new cars, plans to adjust its rating criteria to favor cars that use physical buttons over touchscreen displays for crucial controls such as indicators, hazard lights, and windscreen wipers.
This shift is driven by concerns over driver distraction, as research from the UK indicates that using touchscreens can significantly impair a driver’s reaction time. While modern cars increasingly incorporate advanced technology and connectivity features, ANCAP’s new guidelines aim to ensure that these features do not compromise driver safety. The response from the automotive industry is mixed, with some stakeholders highlighting consumer demand for high-tech features.
It’s an interesting shot across the bow of the automotive display market. You know you can have too much of a good thing, unless it is a concept car at CES and no one has to actually try to figure out how it works.
