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Introduction: I have noticed that average people are clueless about ergonomics laws and don't understand that touchscreens in cars are uneasy and dangerous. I asked Grok AI to explain why.

Touch control screens in cars are becoming more common, but they’re a growing hazard. Unlike physical buttons or knobs, touchscreens require drivers to look away from the road. Studies show that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles the risk of a crash. With touchscreens, drivers often need more time to find and tap the right spot, pulling their focus from driving.

Physical controls, like buttons and dials, follow the laws of ergonomics. They let drivers operate them by feel, without glancing down. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that tasks taking longer than 12 seconds to complete, common with touchscreens, significantly increase distraction. Physical controls are faster and instinctive, reducing mental and visual strain.

Common sense backs this up too. Imagine adjusting the heat or radio while driving. A knob can be turned blindly, but a touchscreen demands precision and attention. A 2021 study by the AAA Foundation showed drivers using touchscreens were distracted up to 50% longer than with physical controls. In high-speed situations, those extra seconds can be deadly.

Carmakers chasing sleek designs ignore this at our peril. Physical controls aren’t just nostalgic. They’re proven safer. Laws of ergonomics prioritize efficiency and intuition, not flashy gimmicks. Touchscreens might look modern, but they clash with how humans actually function behind the wheel.

Design experts have sounded the alarm. Automotive designer Frank Stephenson, known for the Mini Cooper, has called touchscreens “a step backward” for safety. Jony Ive, ex-Apple design chief, once stressed that interfaces should never compromise usability for aesthetics. Their warnings echo the data: cars need physical controls to keep drivers focused and roads safer.