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Don't touch me now - the negative effects of text entry on a touchscreen while driving
1Department of Engineering and Traffic Psychology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Traffic Injury Prevention
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Operating touchscreens for complex tasks while driving significantly impairs driving performance, leading to increased deviations and slower reactions compared to physical controls. This highlights the distracting nature of touch displays in vehicles.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Automotive Safety
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- In-vehicle information and communication systems are crucial for road safety.
- Touchscreens are increasingly prevalent in vehicles for driver-car interaction.
- Operating touchscreens diverts cognitive resources essential for driving.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of complex touchscreen tasks on driving performance.
- To compare touchscreen operation with physical controls and baseline driving.
- To quantify driver distraction caused by touch display use.
Main Methods:
- A simulation study using the ISO certified lane change task.
- Twenty-six students participated in a repeated-measures experiment.
- Conditions included baseline driving, music selection (touch), navigation input (touch), and radio tuning (analogue button).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in driving performance were observed across conditions.
- Touchscreen operation resulted in greater lane deviation and longer reaction times.
- Lane keeping was poorer during touchscreen use compared to baseline and analogue button use.
Conclusions:
- Operating complex functions via touch displays is not recommended due to significant distraction.
- Speech input may serve as a safer alternative for complex tasks.
- Future research should explore optimal touchscreen implementations for driving.
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