Beginning this year, Euro NCAP has rolled out new rules stipulating that five critical safety features in vehicles—turn signals, windshield wipers, hazard lights, horns, and the eCall emergency system—must be controlled using physical buttons or levers. Relying solely on touchscreens for these functions is now prohibited. Models that do not adhere to these standards will automatically have one star deducted from their safety rating and will be disqualified from achieving a five-star safety certification. Although compliance with these regulations is not mandatory, the five-star rating is highly coveted by automakers, prompting nearly all brands to follow suit. Studies indicate that operating these key functions exclusively through touchscreens substantially increases the duration drivers divert their attention from the road and slows their reaction times, thereby heightening the risk of accidents. Concurrently, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has also issued a draft proposal mandating that the aforementioned functions must be accessible via physical buttons, with a minimum size requirement of 10×10 millimeters.
