Mobile Phone's and Cars

The rapper, Stormzy, has been banned from driving while using a mobile phone in a car.

The modern car interior has become a strange paradox. On the one hand, drivers are legally prohibited from even brushing a finger against a mobile phone while the vehicle is in motion – and rightly so, given the dangers of distracted driving. On the other, car manufacturers are churning out vehicles with dashboard screens that require a level of attention better suited to solving a Rubik’s Cube than safely operating a motor vehicle.

 

Gone are the days when adjusting the heating or switching radio stations involved a quick twist of a knob or press of a button. Now, drivers must navigate through menus, submenus, and a bewildering array of touchscreen options just to raise the cabin temperature by a single degree. Worse still, these screens are often poorly designed, requiring pinpoint accuracy and multiple taps. If you miss, you might accidentally turn on the heated seats instead of increasing the airflow – a minor inconvenience at a standstill, but potentially disastrous while doing 70 on a motorway.

The inconsistency is laughable. Lawmakers are eager to condemn mobile phone use because it takes eyes off the road, yet these built-in infotainment systems are essentially tablets welded into the dashboard. Some even offer full internet browsing capability, as though binge-watching a series on Netflix was the logical next step for the morning commute. The cognitive load involved in using these systems is far greater than that of sending a text message, yet they're exempt from the same scrutiny.

There’s also the matter of muscle memory. With traditional knobs and dials, a driver could adjust settings by feel, without needing to glance away. Screens, however, demand visual confirmation for every interaction. You’re forced to look away from the road, even briefly, just to ensure you’ve pressed the right spot. It’s ironic that in a world obsessed with reducing distractions, car interiors have become a distraction factory.

Proponents might argue that many systems now include voice control, eliminating the need to use touchscreens altogether. In reality, these systems often misunderstand commands or require such rigid phrasing that drivers end up repeating themselves in frustration. By the time you’ve successfully convinced your car to “play BBC Radio 4,” you might have been better off fumbling through the menus after all.

The solution isn’t to ban these systems outright; they’re undoubtedly useful when used responsibly. But there’s a clear need for better regulation and design standards. Cars should prioritise simplicity and ergonomics over flashy tech. Essential functions – heating, ventilation, and audio controls – should always be operable with tactile, intuitive buttons and dials. If such measures aren’t taken, we risk a future where the act of driving itself becomes secondary to the overwhelming task of operating the car’s controls.

Ultimately, the current state of affairs is nothing short of absurd. We’ve legislated against mobile phone use for good reason, but we’ve turned a blind eye to the distracting chaos built into modern vehicles. It’s high time for a rethink – before the roads become an even greater battlefield of divided attention.