Tesla verdict: AUDIO MOBIL's solution

As reported by some media, the Higher Regional Court in Karlsruhe imposed a driving ban on a Tesla driver who drove off the road in the rain when he tried to change the windshield wiper interval on the touchscreen in the center console.

The central screen is regarded as an electronic device within the meaning of Section 23 (1a) sentences 1 and 2 StVO, the operation of which is only permitted to the driver under certain conditions. For example, operation is prohibited if it involves looking at the screen for too long.

The court ruling will also cause a stir among car manufacturers. For example, functions that are operated via the touchscreen are under fire, as they usually require more attention than "conventional dashboards".

In this context, it is questionable to implement operating concepts in vehicles that run counter to intuitive use - as is conventionally the case with steering column levers or other established alternatives. It now seems like an obsessive "different" just to stand out from the majority of OEMs. The fact that the user experience falls by the wayside, as does vehicle safety, cannot mean that this is the way forward. But how can future vehicle input systems be designed in such a way that both usability and occupant safety are guaranteed?

ÖNORM V 5090, developed by the Austrian Standards Institute, is a test procedure for potential distractions caused by driver information and assistance systems in cars.

With ÖNORM V 5090, vehicle manufacturers and suppliers can for the first time comprehensively assess whether a technology is safe to operate in the HMI test. This is crucial for the further development, optimization and design of existing and new models. Tesla will probably also have to rethink its operating concept.

AUDIO MOBL is the world's first supplier to offer the application of this test procedure on a secure in-house test site, thus enabling car manufacturers to recognize the potential for distraction at an early stage. This means that safe and legally compliant operation can already be achieved at the development stage.

In addition to the ÖNORM test, AUDIO MOBIL offers a steering wheel concept that focuses precisely on these requirements. All functions are integrated into the steering wheel and the driver can devote their full attention to the road. In the driving tests with test subjects, it was found that the integrated touchscreen is not used while driving, not to say rejected, and the drivers only use the haptic controls, such as buttons and switches, which are also available.

Photo: Tesla