Why the 2025 is less safe than the earlier years

[Master Blaster]

Its all about keeping your attention on the road, not on the screen.
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/...touchscreen-is-more-dangerous-than-your-phone

Sponsored

 

[ScottyC]

Here comes yet another thread about the touchscreen controls of the 2025......

 

[MetalThunder]

With all the safety features piled into cars/trucks nowadays - raising prices and complexity - "For Your Safety" - The moving of controls to a touchscreen is an absolute horrible design . Only an idiot would argue otherwise

Your Fancy Car's Touchscreen Is Worse Than Buttons (Studies Prove It)

The Dangerous Rise of Distracted Driving by Design
Modern vehicles have quietly become rolling monuments to terrible user experience, trading intuitive physical controls for flashy but dangerous touchscreen interfaces. What began as a luxury feature in early Tesla models has metastasized into an industry-wide plague of poorly designed digital dashboards that demand more attention from drivers than the road itself.

Cheers

 

[Escapologist]

I think this does not take into account the better design of Ford's interface than 90% of other touchscreen cars I have seen. The row of easy access buttons along the bottom eliminates a lot of hunt and peck. It is also mounted high enough in Maverick and my Escape that you can still catch movement and brake-lights ahead while looking at it.

IMO this is one of the safest screens there is, and due to interface improvement and better responsiveness, it may be safer than the 2022-24 models. Though coming from one of those there would be an acclimatisation delay.

I was however fortunate to learn to drive, and gain experience driving before phones. Thus really learned the "road first" thing. When younger gens have been accustomed to instantly respond to their phone/screen, they probably find it super hard to break that habit, and thus the driving isn't first. Before it was actually illegal to phone and drive, I have cut off calls, tossed the phone on the seat, dumped a coffee in the pass footwell etc because sudden situations developed. If you'd rather die than let go of your phone, you will die.

 

[Master Blaster]

I think this does not take into account the better design of Ford's interface than 90% of other touchscreen cars I have seen. The row of easy access buttons along the bottom eliminates a lot of hunt and peck. It is also mounted high enough in Maverick and my Escape that you can still catch movement and brake-lights ahead while looking at it.

IMO this is one of the safest screens there is, and due to interface improvement and better responsiveness, it may be safer than the 2022-24 models. Though coming from one of those there would be an acclimatisation delay.

I was however fortunate to learn to drive, and gain experience driving before phones. Thus really learned the "road first" thing. When younger gens have been accustomed to instantly respond to their phone/screen, they probably find it super hard to break that habit, and thus the driving isn't first. Before it was actually illegal to phone and drive, I have cut off calls, tossed the phone on the seat, dumped a coffee in the pass footwell etc because sudden situations developed. If you'd rather die than let go of your phone, you will die.

I strongly disagree. The key is that you are looking at the screen to push those buttons instead of the road. You're distracted. When a kid runs in front of you and you're trying to adjust something, they don't have bright brake lights on their body and you can't see them. Its an incredibly bad design decision.

 

[Blue_Max]

I strongly disagree. The key is that you are looking at the screen to push those buttons instead of the road. You're distracted. When a kid runs in front of you and you're trying to adjust something, they don't have bright brake lights on their body and you can't see them. Its an incredibly bad design decision.

And I guarantee you it's a decision made based on cost. One screen is a lot cheaper than a bunch of buttons and knobs with their associated wiring and fasteners.

 

[Jah.]

Glad I have physical knobs on my 22 . one reason I wouldn't buy a 25 Mav . I wouldn't own a vehicle that operates all controls thru a touch screen . touch screens not my thing . to each their own imo .

 

[Escapologist]

I strongly disagree. The key is that you are looking at the screen to push those buttons instead of the road. You're distracted. When a kid runs in front of you and you're trying to adjust something, they don't have bright brake lights on their body and you can't see them. Its an incredibly bad design decision.

That generically applies to every screen. How then is 2025 worse than prior? There are still some physical buttons, the "software" buttons stay in the same place and muscle memory can develop. Many features can be operated by voice. How does the harder to read, smaller screen win here? Make a logical argument.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

It's happening in Europe, if auto manufacturers want to be ranked in the highest safety class.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/car-makers-must-bring-back-buttons-says-europe/#:~:text=Key dashboard touchscreen functions will,and therefore promoting safer driving.”

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

And I guarantee you it's a decision made based on cost. One screen is a lot cheaper than a bunch of buttons and knobs with their associated wiring and fasteners.

Absolutely correct
Even as far as putting hard stops on our gear selector vs free spinning.
Hard stops cost more.

 

[Edge Haley]

Was excited about AWD Hybrid. I too test drove a 2025 with knobs removed to the screen...and that one feature convinced me to keep my MY2022.

It's called a "graphical user interface"...I do GUI software for a living. How you use a mouse or keyboard to maneuver thru a screen. When touch screens came out it was quickly noticed humans had to take hands off a keyboard to maneuver/touch thru a screen. I, and most, never look down for knobs. Steering wheel options, for changing volume, station, etc offer the feel and your brain quickly memorizes knobs where they are and distance, direction and feel. A knob provides a texture feel when turning...putting the control on the screen will always take my eyes off the road to watch the finger get to an exact spot on the screen and slide your finger, etc.

Voice control is a better option but lots of people cannot master it or it's not available on some Maverick options...If Ford is trying to force elimination of knobs, they should force inclusion of voice commands.

 

[justiz00]

I strongly disagree. The key is that you are looking at the screen to push those buttons instead of the road. You're distracted. When a kid runs in front of you and you're trying to adjust something, they don't have bright brake lights on their body and you can't see them. Its an incredibly bad design decision.

In this day and age, you are making the argument that if you don't opt for the safety features of the copilot system or any system with pedestrian recognition, you are being negligent. Like the argument of if an XL driver hits and injured someone, but an XLT or Lariat model with its safety features could have prevented the collision/injury, that is negligence on the driver's part (because they chose not to buy those safety features). This isn't specific to Ford, but any manufacturer that markets safety features as convenience features to reduce costs.

 

[TwuckHappens]

Lol coming from a group of people that keep an open can of beer in the driver seat, look to bypass seatbelts, and don't like collision avoidance/lane keeping systems I think putting HVAC controls on the touchscreen is the least of your concerns.

 

[Speed2000]

Only things that constantly change need a screen like maps or 360 cameras. Buttons, knobs, and dials should be laid out in such a way as to add character to a cars interior design.

 

[Dukeallen]

In this day and age, you are making the argument that if you don't opt for the safety features of the copilot system or any system with pedestrian recognition, you are being negligent. Like the argument of if an XL driver hits and injured someone, but an XLT or Lariat model with its safety features could have prevented the collision/injury, that is negligence on the driver's part (because they chose not to buy those safety features). This isn't specific to Ford, but any manufacturer that markets safety features as convenience features to reduce costs.

Safety features are good if they SUPPLEMENT good driving and common sense. When people depend on them, accidents happen.

Sponsored