Why are large in-car touchscreens legal when phones are banned while driving?

Question

msc545 · Accepted Answer

t's a reasonable question, and many traffic safety researchers have asked the same thing. The short answer is that the law has not kept up with vehicle design.

Here's why the difference exists:

Phone bans were relatively straightforward. Research consistently showed that holding or manipulating a phone while driving increased crash risk. Legislatures could simply prohibit handheld phone use.
Touchscreens are built into the vehicle. Regulating the controls that manufacturers put into cars is much more complicated. In the U. S., vehicle design is largely regulated at the federal level, while phone-use laws are mostly enacted by states.
Manufacturers argued that integrated systems are safer. The idea was that drivers would keep their eyes closer to the road and use voice commands. In practice, that isn't always true.

The irony is that many modern touchscreens require drivers to perform tasks that once had dedicated knobs or buttons. For example, changing climate controls or adjusting mirrors may now require:

Looking at the screen.
Navigating through menus.
Making multiple taps.

Those actions can take a driver's eyes off the road for several seconds.

Safety studies have found that some in-car touchscreen tasks can produce distraction comparable to—or in some cases greater than—using a handheld phone, particularly for complex interactions. The key factor is visual and cognitive distraction, not simply whether the device is physically attached to the car.

This has led to growing criticism from organizations such as the National Transportation Safety Board and researchers in human factors engineering. Some countries and independent safety organizations have also begun encouraging manufacturers to return frequently used controls—such as windshield wipers, hazard lights, and climate functions—to physical buttons.

There are also practical reasons the trend persists:

Large touchscreens are cheaper to manufacture than many individual switches.
Software updates can add new features without redesigning hardware.
Consumers often perceive large displays as modern and premium, creating a marketing advantage.

So why aren't they banned?

Because the legal standards are different. Most phone laws prohibit holding or operating a handheld electronic device, while a vehicle's built-in controls are considered part of the car itself. Unless lawmakers specifically regulate in-vehicle interface design or require certain functions to have physical controls, those screens remain legal.

Many transportation experts believe future regulations will focus less on what device a driver is using and more on how much visual attention any task demands. That approach would treat a distracting touchscreen and a distracting phone more similarly, regardless of where the screen is located.

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

I have no idea. Touch screens are a death trap. Possibly the dumbest single feature ever added to a motor vehicle. One of the reasons I bought my 2 daily driver cars was a small-ish touchscreen that is restricted to the audio system and navigation via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And even the audio has analog dials and physical steering wheel controls for volume and tuning. All the HVAC controls, seat heaters, steering wheel heater, front and rear defrosters, have their own analog buttons and knobs. If the touchscreen fails I don't lose much functionality.

In contrast one of my neighbors has a car with a huge touchscreen that basically occupies the entire center stack and every function has been moved to software and the touchscreen. It is scary watching him trying to adjust a seat heater temp 3 layers down in menus.

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

Touchscreens are cheaper in production than manual button controls. Police's job is to write tickets about everything. Add one and one and you will know why one is okay and another not.

You're just human resource to generate money for elites and children they can eat.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

I got what you're asking. It's about the distraction - the big screen is just as distracting as a cellphone and probably more so, but they are allowed and cellphones aren't allowed. 🤷🏼‍♀️

OlderAndWiser · Answer

My vehicle's touchscreen does not display video from my phone or other sources, but only car performance info and a GPS map, and I am not tempted to look at those constantly.

drummerdude25 · Answer

I’ll take a crack at this one but it’s somewhat of a stretch, I’ll admit… but since the screens in cars are fixed and have large displays and are designed to fulfill simple functions and are generally be easy to navigate, it’s considered safe enough?

I just think about how grabbing a phone and navigating a phone screen while driving, to text on a tiny keypad, or click and scroll through menus, pick your next song you want to play… typically takes a fair bit of attention and focus away from driving. You have to turn your head, find your phone, pick it up, type on a small keypad, etc… maybe you drop it while you’re driving… see what I mean?

With a touchscreen on your center dash, you don’t really have to turn your head, or take a ton of focus off of the road, it’s designed to be somewhat ergonomic and have a simple readable layout… it’s generally the same functionally as having old analog/tactile buttons that you press maybe a couple of times to accomplish a task. 1-2-3 presses to get your AC to blow a little stronger, or whatever…

TL;DR — It's designed to be useable.

MisterWack · Answer

We should go back to manual mechanic physical controls in vehicles rather than a computer, all digital, touchscreen present and future.

Not to mention the car you buy, sometimes comes with microphones, sensors, tracking, and more all to figure out your consumer habits, collect data useful to insurance companies to determine if you are a safe enough driver to stay on their program, and so on. A lot of spyware in vehicles.

And I will say vehicles are getting larger and more dangerous as a result to pedestrians, bikers, and so on.
These shouldn’t be the case and we need to strongly regulate the system to bring about positive changes since these corporations aren’t going to do it themselves.
Cars will always sell, make cars more efficient, effective, useful, repairable, and more reliable to the consumer who buys the car instead of getting a lesser product of which their parents bought several years prior.

Purpleronnie · Answer

The question kinda points at a lack of understanding at least in uk police consideration of driving in the UK where I mostly do

It’s interacting with either whilst driving thats illegal. Phone calls can be made via Bluetooth system , CarPlay , android auto , Bluetooth ear piece , voice commands , phone mounted in a cradle or holder.

However of the police believe that use of either whether with hands or without is distracting you from driving you can still be prosecuted for careless driving or not being in proper control of a Vehicle

This type of information is freely available in a web search or speaking to your local authorities not really for G@G

SamIam96 · Answer

The screens are part of the car. They cannot be removed. They display speedometers and gauges and have touch sensitive buttons to control many features like climate and windshield wipers.

A phone is a thing you choose to bring into the vehicle, not unlike a briefcase or handgun. Some things are more dangerous to yourself and those around you than others.

Bricealan · Answer

@kelly6 Good question. My first Tesla had a huge touch screen, and I did at times, touch things to get information or change something, But I did have 'hands off' option for my phone and did not have to take my eyes off the road. I, like you, believe I lose concentration and attention when poking a touch screen, maybe more so than being on a phone. My new Tesla has FSD -full self-drive, but still, I cannot hold my cell phone in front ofo my face or the self-drive disconnects

AviatorTom · Answer

Holding a phone while driving is illegal, because it forces you to take one hand off the steering wheel, reducing your ability to react to emergencies. The in-car screen still allows you to have both hands on the steering wheel, touching it only when necessary, not much different from touching buttons and knobs.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

The logic I think was supposed to be that you have bigger buttons so you don't need to look at it for as long to use it. Where with a tiny phone your eyes need a second to adjust from the road to the screen and it's takes longest to perform actions like selecting a song on the radio

Finchie40 · Answer

Because it’s a money maker to bust people on their phones while driving , why this stupid law was passed , it’s all about money over anything else. Accidents occur all the time over different things that they don’t have any control over. A lady smashed the back of my car because she was reaching for a blueberry to eat , so blueberries should be against the law 😂

Tamera952 · Answer

THAT is an EXCELLENT question! I have often wondered that myself. Especially at night when the brightness is turned WAY up, and it looks like a fu*king Jumbotron on your dashboard!

loveslongnails · Answer

Phones should absolutely be banned while driving, without question. This should be obvious. Touchscreens however, should also have limited functionality while the vehicle is operative.

Currently there are many functions you can operate from the steering wheel and that's far preferable, but the time is coming when voice control should be available for many functions. I'd like to see knobs or switches return for certain functions, but that doesn't seem likely.

Brady · Answer

Touchscreens shouldn't be touched when driving but it only takes a finger and your not holding anything. You quickly look at it like you should look behind you when you turn.

You use one hand to drive and the other for a cell which can increase the chances of accidents like if you quickly have to turn to avoid something.

exitseven · Answer

Where I live phones are banned while driving too. You can only use the hands free option. If I was still driving a long commute I would have a tablet PC mounted in my truck and watch TV while I drove to work.

molonski2 · Answer

Always has seemed utterly crazy to me !

Touch a phone in Australia= WOW , you in incredible trouble , they think they can stamp it out.

Come to Thailand and try and find someone NOT on a phone or two.. including motor bikes.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

The same reason you can't use plastic bags in a supermarket yet so many things in the supermarket are wrapped in plastic. Human rules are so ridiculous lol.

emeraldsaphire · Answer

Because they typically won't let you play candy crush or text your homies when you are driving

Nikki1989 · Answer

Cars are made with more distractions than ever before. It really doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Lliam · Answer

Right? I think those large touch screens would be a huge distraction. You can't watch the road and a screen at the same time.

MrChinaski · Answer

Because no government is going to legislate to recall half the stock of cars currently in service.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Capitalism  Everything is hunky dory as long as the fat cats keep getting fatter.

NathanDavis · Answer

by law... touchscreens are limited to work just the same as old radios did... for decades

browsingthroughthe · Answer

It's out of control 🛂 sigh 😔😞  . legislators need to enact regulations on carmakers

Surely · Answer

Great question! I would rather have the old knobs and push buttons. At least you can use your touch and feel without taking your eyes off of the road.

XXblack88 · Answer

🤔 I think cause you can use gps and car related staff unlike the phone just in my opinion

Essa1212 · Answer

Great question. Same for those cases that hold your phone that you can look at while you drive….

AngryCarl3 · Answer

I mean you should only touch the screen when the car is stationary. Obviously.

YourExLover69 · Answer

I agree with you 💯. It can create distractions and accidents. 😶

RareBreedOfMan · Answer

Yes, doesn't seem to make sense that's the laws for you.

Jersey2 · Answer

I use FSD when touching the screen in my Tesla.

foxsquirrell · Answer

Touch screens in cars should be illegal too. The driver needs to be concentrated on driving and in no way distracted. You are right.

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

There not banned here you just have to use the hands free options

dudeinohio · Answer

Touchscreens are just one way to operate controls in the car. Totally different than a phone.

CupOfCoffee01 · Answer

My car has to be stopped in order to lot of major stuff.

robocop666 · Answer

holding a phone is multi tasking. ask the government not me.

Sunday2001 · Answer

Probably cause their hands free.

Anonymous · Answer

@kelly6 This doesn’t answer your question but your profile pic is super hot

Paige2006 · Answer

Good question

jahaims · Answer

Laws are based on profit, not logic.

austinbooth · Answer

For driving safely

ThisSiteSux · Answer

Tesla has a better lobby

Anonymous · Answer

They should ban cell phones completely.

BadApple69 · Answer

Darn good question.

Why are large in-car touchscreens legal when phones are banned while driving?

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Why are large in-car touchscreens legal when phones are banned while driving?

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Is it illegal to get a phone mount for a car to take video of while driving of the streets and all?

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