robxr4ti Touch screens require far more time to navigate than your average radio with knobs so I really don’t think your distraction comparison is valid here.
Of course it matters. It matters how much of a distraction it causes, and it matters if that additional distraction actually translates into more car accidents, injuries or deaths.
Driving stick is more distracting than driving automatic. But manual transmissions didn’t need to be banned. But stick was phased out mostly due to costs and lack of consumer demand.
robxr4ti Regardless of whether “it serves a purpose to operate a car” distracted driving (significant distraction) has no place in a car.
There’s probably nothing more distracting to a driver than having kids in the car. But it would be absurd to suggest that children should be banned because they cause significant distracted driving.
Distraction is going to be a matter of degree. At some point you have to draw a line between what type of distraction is acceptable for the normal course of driving and what type of distraction is unacceptable. That line is pretty easy to draw when the particular factor is something completely unrelated to driving, such as using a cell phone.
It becomes harder when the factor is related to driving and controlling features of the vehicle. Touchscreens do cause distractions. But physical knobs/dials/sliders for that same functionality also causes distractions. If we’re going to ban things that cause distractions, then both should be banned. So, it does matter how much more distraction is caused by a touchscreen compared to physical controls. And whether that additional distraction actually results in more collisions.
There’s clear evidence that the gigantic trucks that are the most popular vehicle on the roads in North America have visibility issues due to massive blinds spots. And the outrageous size results in more deaths and injuries. Should the Ford F-150 and the Dodge Ram be banned?
If consumers don’t like touchscreens or feel that they are dangerous (and there does finally seem to be some pushback) then the issue might resolve itself through consumer demand.
