I dunno, I own a 2017 Lexus RX 450h which does not have a touch-screen but instead has a joystick type system which I can only imagine was designed to make it easier to use while driving. Not that you'd use it for much when you're driving anyway though, since most functionality is locked unless you're parked. I'd prefer a touch screen because the only time I want to use it is for plugging in destination names which is currently very slow with the joystick. In my case, I feel that a touch screen would not increase my risk of being hurt.
I think the author is right that using touch-screens while driving is extremely distracting, but I think the point of (many) of them is to be used when you're not driving.
Going onto the whole idea of "assault of information", I find as a driver that I would ideally never take my eyes off the road except to look at mirrors. This is why I cannot believe that some cars have absurdly complicated dashboards and dashboard/infotainment combinations (e.g. Audi). I tell people that my cars HUD is one of the best safety features ever made for this reason - because I keep my eyes on the road while getting info about my speed, gas usage, driving instructions. I don't ever look at the infotainment or dashboard when driving because of this HUD.
I'm extremely excited to see the new AR HUDs coming from the Germans and I'm increasingly frustrated that Tesla won't make HUDs and that aftermarket options for them suck. It seems that few have similar driving experiences to myself which honestly shocks me.
If the HUD covers part of the view of the road, I don't like it. If it covers part of the view of the hood (i.e., it is lower), then is it really different then having the dash designed so it sits higher up and you don't see your hood?
>I tell people that my cars HUD is one of the best safety features ever made for this reason
Interesting, I have the opposite take. I feel like the HUD in my car offers me a constant flow of information, but it's always in my field of view and is a distraction as a result of it. With information restricted to my instrument cluster, it's not in the way and easy to ignore.
Maybe it's because I live in a more urban area, but I don't need to constantly be aware of my speed because it's mostly limited by traffic and road geometry.
I think the author is right that using touch-screens while driving is extremely distracting, but I think the point of (many) of them is to be used when you're not driving.
Going onto the whole idea of "assault of information", I find as a driver that I would ideally never take my eyes off the road except to look at mirrors. This is why I cannot believe that some cars have absurdly complicated dashboards and dashboard/infotainment combinations (e.g. Audi). I tell people that my cars HUD is one of the best safety features ever made for this reason - because I keep my eyes on the road while getting info about my speed, gas usage, driving instructions. I don't ever look at the infotainment or dashboard when driving because of this HUD.
I'm extremely excited to see the new AR HUDs coming from the Germans and I'm increasingly frustrated that Tesla won't make HUDs and that aftermarket options for them suck. It seems that few have similar driving experiences to myself which honestly shocks me.