“Why are phones banned while driving but tablets in cars are fine? Learn why this law exists!” #drivinglaws #safetyfirst
Have you ever wondered why you can’t use your phone while driving but it’s totally fine to have a tablet screen in your car to control everything? Let’s break it down for you in simple terms and learn about the reasons behind this seemingly contradictory rule.
The Dangers of Phone Use While Driving
Using your phone while driving is prohibited because it significantly increases the risk of accidents due to distraction. When you’re on your phone, your attention is divided between the road and the task at hand, causing delayed reactions and impaired judgment. This puts not only yourself but also other drivers and pedestrians at risk.
Tablet Screens in Cars: The Difference
Car manufacturers have integrated tablet screens in vehicles to streamline the control of various functions like navigation, music, and climate control. While these screens may seem similar to smartphones, they are designed and positioned in a way that minimizes distraction. They are typically larger, user-friendly, and placed within a driver’s line of sight to reduce the need to look away from the road for extended periods.
The Role of Laws and Regulations
The laws that govern phone use while driving are in place to protect you and others on the road from accidents caused by distraction. However, the adoption of technology in cars is carefully regulated to ensure that it enhances rather than impairs driver safety.
In Conclusion
While the use of phones while driving is rightly prohibited, the presence of tablet screens in cars is permitted with safeguards in place to minimize distraction. By understanding the reasons behind these rules, you can make informed decisions on how to stay safe on the road while enjoying the convenience of in-car technology.
The law is in using the device while driving, not in the device existing while driving, and not all places have the same laws.
Modern cars use modern tools to control modern functionality, it is up to the driver and/or the manufacturer to make sure those tools are used in a way that is legal where they are.
The functions that you wouldn’t expect to be used while driving (like games and movies) are meant to be used when the car is parked. Other functions, like GPS, will typically come with a warning that says you need to be stopped to enter information.
Because laws were passed against phone use while driving, but no laws have been passed banning touchscreens in cars.
There is no real “why” here – lawmakers just haven’t done anything about it.
The device isn’t what’s illegal, it’s the method of interaction that usually is.
Most laws require the device to be hands-free and able to be used while the driver is still focusing on the road. A police officer will generally not pull you over for having your phone in a cradle on your dashboard, regardless of what you’re actually doing with it.
From 2026, the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) will introduce new testing rules that will require vehicles to have physical controls for basic functions like turn signals and windscreen wipers to earn a full five-star safety rating.
There are very specific laws about placement of the device within the vehicle, specifically accessibility to the driver and visibility of the road while using it. There are also certifications about navigating through the OS and how long specific actions can take. Your phone can be anywhere and has no such OS restrictions.
Phones are not dangerous because of the interface. Hands free is nearly as bad as holding it to your head.
The problem is the brain processing required to maintain a phone call. If you have a passenger, they also see conditions and subconsciously will adjust conversation accordingly. With a phone call, the other end doesn’t see that.
In some ways it doesn’t make a lot of sense, because both a phone and the car’s built-in dash are potential distractions, but I think there’s probably an argument to be made that the sorts of things you’re going to be doing with your car controls are probably the same things people have been doing with their manual car controls for years.
Sure, I can adjust the temperature in my car via the touch screen while I’m driving, but the alternative is me messing with the temperature dials while driving instead. Not sure if one is better than the other.
Add to that, the features you’re probably using on your car touch screen are probably less likely to encourage you to keep your focus on it. If you’re texting with your friend on your phone, you’re probably going to keep checking back to see if you’ve got a message, never mind if you’re doing something even worse like watching TV or something. On the other hand, if you’re changing the radio station or something, that’s probably a one-and-done situation.
Just my two cents.
Those screens have a disclaimer that tell you not to use it interactively while driving. In my car if you touch it too much while the car is in motion it locks you out
The laws haven’t caught up to the car design. Elon decided to put a giant table on the dash of the car and the regulations have yet to outlaw that practice. They will, eventually.
The short answer is that auto regulations are woefully behind the times. It’s also why oncoming headlights seem more blinding now than 10-20 years ago. The regulations around them are antiquated, so auto makers can kinda-sorta do whatever they want.
This reminds me of that one video where the cop pulls the guy over in a tesla and is like ‘you can’t have that big tablet in your car’, while the guy explains its a part of the dash and doesn’t come out.
You typically don’t hold a permanently-affixed touchscreen, so your hand is immediately available. Not so much while holding a phone
This is good example of how rules have blind spots. I’m often slightly more distracted from the road adjusting HVAC controls on my early touchscreen than glancing at a short text.
Phones came first, and we quickly found out how little people will pay attention even if they’re engaged in a simple phone conversation. Touchscreens in vehicles came later, and because there are no rules about it yet, tech sells, so they go in cars.
This is good example of how rules have blind spots. I’m often slightly more distracted from the road adjusting HVAC controls on my early touchscreen than glancing at a short text.
Phones came first, and we quickly found out how little people will pay attention even if they’re engaged in a simple phone conversation. Touchscreens in vehicles came later, and because there are no rules about it yet, tech sells, so they go in cars.
My car has a literal DVD player right in the front dash, I can’t believe that was ever approved.
A phone can have messages and things to keep your interest for long periods. A car’s touchscreen doesn’t and usually restricts what can be seen. For example, my messages can only be read out loud when i’m driving and won’t be displayed. Google Maps will only accept voice for entering in new destinations when the car is moving. You can’t type on it.
Car functions are not nearly as distracting as getting messages from friends.
Car manufactures trying to sell cars with latest gadgets, so they will pack as much as they can. Governments are fine with that cause they get many kickbacks.
Because we’re stupid as a society and often legislation does not match the speed of technology
I’m glad I’m not the only person who hates the touch screen controls and finds them unsafe. I was renting a 2024 atlas while my car was in the shop, And I swear every time I wanted to change the temperature or change a radio station while driving it gave me a mini heart attack. I spent so much longer having to look at the screen to go through the menu settings and I couldn’t just do it by feel. I’m a heathen who normally adjust my temperature by hot side to cold side with a single quick spin as soon as I jump into my car either in early morning or afternoon since it’s a dramatic difference in temp going or coming home from work, but here I had to keep hitting 1° increments tap tap tap tap tap tap tap… Make sure I didn’t accidentally go a little too far to the left and hit something else without realizing it…. it was such a huge distraction and took forever. I’m sure there were probably some voice controls but I was only having the car for a few days, And in the morning I’m normally already dialed into work meeting calls. I absolutely hate having to rely on sight versus tactile and all the navigation/menus.
Driving on FSD “pay attn to road” beep message ; looking at my cars tablet to long 😑
Kindly attach the link with hardware disable this !!
Because adjusting a simple setting, although mildly distracting, is far less distracting than trying to look at a small screen and communicate
the tablet screen usually locks many features while the car is moving so you are forced to park to do stuff like add a new phone etc
because you can’t hold a conversation or manually text message with those cars, operating buttons, physical or touch is not the same as typing out and splitting your focus on a conversation. same reason why screaming kids in cars can lead to car crashes, distractions to the driver.
That is such a good question. I was recently driving with a friend who just got a new car, and he was using his phone for directions rather than his car’s screen. When I asked him why, he said that he could hold his phone up and keep an eye on the road, rather than looking down at the screen.
The one thing Chrysler nailed was their uconnect infotainment. Fancy touch screen but all the main functions, including radio and most climate control, use knobs or buttons
It’s because the auto industry lobbies the government to change the laws so car makers can make more money on their cars. Same with mandatory backup cameras. Want to use your phone while driving? Not allowed. Unless, you have a brand new car with a big integrated touchscreen. Now it’s ok to drive while distracted, apparently. As long as you spend enough money.
For one thing, every car touchscreen I’ve ever used limits what you can do while the car is in gear. Phones do not.