Two German and Swiss companies measured the risk of driver distraction in six cars. The results are full of insights!

In collaboration with the German club ADAC, the Touring Club Switzerland examined touchscreens. Increasingly larger and equipped with more functions, they often distract drivers, who pay less and less attention to the road. This poses a risk of causing accidents.

A serious test

The idea was to test six iconic models on the market (BMW Series 1, Dacia Sandero, Mazda3, Mercedes Class A, Volkswagen Golf, and Tesla Model 3) and assign them to 24 drivers, each accustomed to driving over 6,000 km per year. These participants drove the cars on a closed road at an average speed of 40 to 50 km/h and were asked to use usual controls such as adjusting the ventilation, radio, as well as activating driver assistance features during their drive.

The results highlighted quite significant differences between the models. The BMW Series 1 and Mazda3 are among the better performers thanks to their intuitive control of lighting, windshield wipers, and physical climate control settings.

These two models are closely followed by the Dacia Sandero and Volkswagen Golf, where pairing the phone on the touchscreen and entering a destination on the GPS are straightforward. However, the Volkswagen Golf requires some acclimatization for climate control adjustments, which are made only via the touchscreen.

Very modern, the Mercedes Class A is nevertheless rated lower. Its “touchpad” control is deemed less precise than traditional rotary controls, and operating the wipers requires more patience compared to competitors.

The Tesla Model 3 has room for improvement

Finally, the Tesla Model 3 is considered a highly distracting vehicle, especially for drivers unfamiliar with the brand. The lighting, wipers, and hazard lights are not easily accessible. This could be problematic in emergency situations.

Therefore, take the time to properly set up your vehicle’s various functions before hitting the road and try to minimize time spent on the touchscreen. Prefer voice commands or, if your car is equipped, autonomous driving for short periods!

Also read: Tesla: Does Autopilot Improve Safety?