The Return of Buttons: Why Analog Controls Are Making a Comeback in Cars
- Kathryn Stagg
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Analog is having a moment. From vinyl records to fountain pens, old-school tools are finding new fans among younger generations who crave a sense of simplicity and connection in an increasingly digital world. A recent Globe and Mail piece noted the resurgence of fountain pens for letter writing and journalling, activities that feel refreshingly deliberate in an era dominated by screens.
But could this analog revival extend beyond hobbies and into the way we drive? Cars have become rolling computers, with dashboards that look more like tablets than control panels. Every year, more physical buttons disappear, replaced by glossy touchscreens promising convenience and modernity. Yet as our vehicles get smarter, a critical question emerges: is this shift making driving safer or more distracting?
The Problem with Touchscreens
Touchscreens are not new to cars. They have been around since the 1980s, but their role has expanded dramatically. Today, they often replace physical controls for essential functions such as headlights, wipers, and temperature settings. These were traditionally operated by stalks, knobs, or buttons that drivers could use without taking their eyes off the road.
Moving them into touchscreen menus may look sleep, but research shows it can compromise driver attention. Distraction behind the wheel usually falls into three categories:
· Visual – taking your eyes off the road
· Manual – taking your hands off the wheel
· Cognitive – taking your mind off the task of driving
Touchscreen interactions often demand all three. Adjusting the temperature via a sliding bar on a screen, for example, requires visual focus and mental effort similar to texting while driving. By contrast, a physical knob or stalk offers tactile feedback and muscle memory, allowing drivers to make adjustments without looking away from the road.
What the Research Says
Studies back this up. A 2020 UK study found that interacting with touchscreens significantly increased reaction times, sometimes even more than texting or making a handheld phone call. The study found that interaction with a touchscreen could even impair reaction times more than cannabis use or alcohol. At highway speeds, that delay means traveling several extra car lengths before responding to a hazard, which can be the difference between avoiding an accident and causing one.
The study found that touchscreen use affected more than just reaction time. Drivers struggled to maintain lane position and showed poorer overall control of the vehicle. These impairments happen because touchscreen tasks demand visual attention, manual input, and cognitive processing all at once. In other words, when you are navigating menus or adjusting settings on a screen, you are not fully focused on driving.
“Decades of road-safety research show human error plays a role in the vast majority of crashes. And the design of in-vehicle interfaces can contribute to how often drivers make safety errors.”
Voice control is often promoted as a safer alternative, and it does help a little, but it is not risk-free. Research shows voice commands still slow reaction times and affect lane keeping compared to driving without any secondary task. So while voice control is better than touchscreens, it is not a magic solution.
What Consumers Are Saying
It’s not just researchers raising concerns about touchscreens; drivers are speaking up too. Consumer surveys consistently show infotainment systems are the most complained-about feature in new cars. In fact, a recent survey of more than 90,000 U.S. car buyers found that touchscreen-heavy designs lead to more frustration in the first 90 days of ownership than any other system in the vehicle.
The complaints are not about the technology itself, but about usability. Drivers report that simple tasks, like adjusting temperature or turning on the windshield wipers, now require multiple taps and menu navigation instead of a quick turn of a knob or flick of a stalk. This adds unnecessary complexity to something that should be intuitive, especially when you’re traveling a highway speeds.
Interestingly, the backlash is not limited to older drivers who grew up with buttons and knobs. Younger buyers, who are comfortable with smartphones and tablets, are also voicing concerns. They appreciate technology but want it to enhance the driving experience, not complicate it. For them, the issue not about rejecting innovation, it’s about balance.
The Button Revival
Automakers are listening. Brands like Volkswagen and Hyundai have already started reintroducing physical controls in response to consumer feedback and upcoming safety standards. Safety regulators are also on board. For example, ANCAP Safety, Australia and New Zealand’s new car assessment program, has announced that starting in 2026 vehicles must have physical controls for critical functions in order to be awarded top safety ratings. Euro NCAP, its European equivalent, is introducing similar standards. This shift suggests that the market is moving toward a hybrid approach: keeping touchscreens for secondary functions while restoring tactile controls for essential ones.
Touchscreens aren’t going away entirely, however. They are great for secondary functions like navigation setup or media selection, as long as you are operating them before you hit the road. But when it comes to driving and essential vehicle functions, analog wins. Physical controls are not just nostalgic; they are safer.
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