Bring back buttons: Half of UK drivers find touchscreens distracting
Wed, 15 Apr 2026
Almost half of UK drivers find touchscreens make driving more distracting compared to traditional buttons.
That's according to a Quotezone.co.uk survey, which reveals that a third of drivers already feel car touchscreens are too big, with future increases likely to be unwelcome.
But could the tide be about to turn? As one of the key figures in creating products like the iPhone, Sir Jony Ive knows a thing or two about touchscreens. But the interior of the new Ferrari Luce EV, designed by his firm LoveFrom, dials down the surfaces that respond to the swipe of a finger and goes big on good old fashioned buttons.
Ive is quoted as saying "a large touchscreen doesn't work in a car," and recent research agrees, with 47% of 1000 UK drivers surveyed by Quotezone.co.uk saying touchscreen dashboards make driving more distracting when compared to using physical buttons.
That's while 97% of new cars launched since 2023 feature a central touchscreen and the average size of a screen is set to hit 10.6-inches — or the same size as most mid-sized tablet devices — by 2030.
The potential for touchscreen distractions causing accidents hasn't escaped the notice of insurers either, increasing claims and pushing up premiums.
"Using a mobile phone while driving is rightly banned due to the distraction it causes, but our survey shows that modern car touchscreens are becoming increasingly distracting," says Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk.
“Drivers are now expected to adjust essential settings with a swipe or touch through menus and screens rather than simple buttons, which can take people’s attention away from the road for longer than many realise.
“Touchscreens are predicted to increase in size in the next few years, but with safety concerns gaining momentum around the world, it’s time to review this innovation and make sure safety is the top priority.
“Distraction is one of the main contributing factors to collisions on our roads, drivers need to be wary and make sure they don’t let anything inside or outside the car distract their attention.”
Touchscreens out of touch
However, we may be approaching peak touchscreen, as Euro NCAP began downgrading the safety rating of cars that don’t have physical buttons or switches for indicators, hazard lights, horns, windscreen wipers and the SOS function for its 2026 test.
Meanwhile China has also introduced new rules that state cars must feature physical buttons for key functions from 1st July 2026.
So whether you drive a Ferrari or Ford, the tyranny of touchscreens could be a thing of the past.
