News 45K views since yesterday

Drivers want buttons back as 7NEWS examines touchscreen safety

Car expert Paul Maric questions why basic controls sit behind menus and what happens when ageing screens stop working.

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7NEWS Australia Story of October 31, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of 7NEWS Australia's most watched videos since yesterday, with 45,275 views.

Drivers demand buttons as touchscreens in cars linked to accidents | 7NEWS

Changing the temperature or adjusting the radio should not require navigating a screen while driving. That is the argument Paul Maric brings to 7NEWS Australia's discussion of touchscreen-heavy car interiors and calls to restore physical buttons.

The broadcast cites research linking touchscreens to accidents and reports that more than two-thirds of Australian drivers want buttons back for basic functions. Maric, appearing from Melbourne for CarExpert, draws a comparison with restrictions on handling phones behind the wheel: drivers are discouraged from interacting with one screen while being asked to use another built into the dashboard.

Unreliable voice recognition is not an adequate substitute, he argues. Nor is distraction his only concern. When temperature settings and other everyday functions depend on a display, a failing screen can become more than an inconvenience as a car ages.

The interview drew about 45,000 views since yesterday, making it the broadcaster's most watched new upload over that period.

The discussion also turns to rear visibility. According to the segment, Polestar is rethinking its decision to remove the Polestar 4's rear window. Maric explains the design rationale but raises concerns about camera mirrors in adverse conditions, another example of technology replacing a familiar physical feature.

His position on dashboard controls is straightforward: "I think we need to go back to the old days of having buttons for things in cars."

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