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The war on buttons: Why carmakers are replacing safety with giant screens
March 4, 2025
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We cyclists have a lot to contend with on UK roads. If it’s not potholes large enough to swallow a Brompton whole, it’s the delightful sheen of a diesel spill. And if it’s not motorists scrolling TikTok, it’s drivers mesmerised by their ever-expanding dashboard touchscreens - the latest must-have feature in the ongoing competition to see how little of the road head one can actually look at.
And if you thought the screen in a Tesla Model 3 was excessive at 15 inches, meet America’s Cadillac Celestiq - a car that proudly offers a 55-inch dashboard display, because apparently what drivers really need is the cinematic experience of an IMAX screening while piloting three tonnes of metal through city streets.
The car industry has been busily replacing buttons with screens for years; seemingly with little regard for whether it’s a good idea. Touchscreens are cheaper to produce than actual physical controls because they have fewer components and can be updated with software changes. The downside is it’s led to generation of cars where adjusting the air conditioning is akin to setting up a new phone - only with the added thrill of travelling at 70mph while doing it.
The good news is that Europe appears to be showing a flicker of common sense. The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) - a respected safety body that assesses how likely your vehicle is to turn you into a crash statistic - has decided that maybe, just maybe, crucial functions like indicators and windscreen wipers shouldn’t require a deep dive into an on-screen menu labyrinth.
From January 2026, cars will need to have actual physical controls for key functions if they want that coveted five-star safety rating.
So, will carmakers finally see sense? Remember, these are the same people who thought keyless entry was a brilliant idea until thieves started treating entire neighbourhoods like free car dealerships. If past behaviour is anything to go by, expect plenty of foot-dragging and an eventual quiet return to buttons - by which time they’ll be marketed as an exciting new feature.
Get Cycle Rescue for free with ETA bicycle insurance
If you suffer a breakdown (including punctures, or even a flat e-bike battery) while out cycling, our 24-hour Cycle Rescue team is on hand to arrange transport for you and your bicycle to a safe location. The service is included for free with ETA cycle insurance, along with:
• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.
Information correct at time of publication.
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