A new Chinese regulation will require cars to use buttons for safety-related functions, instead of putting them on a touchscreen.

The regulation calls out 19 vehicle functions which must have physical controls inside the vehicle, with additional requirements about size and usability of the buttons.

Those functions include:

Turn signals
Hazard lights
Horn
PRND gear shifter
Driver assist function, if present
Windshield wipers
Windshield defroster
Power windows
Emergency call system
Power off switch for EVs
  • finalarbiter@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    16·
    2 days ago

    It isn’t clear from the article that they’re mandating the presence of an emergency call system. The “if present” note on the driver assistance function appears to have been added in this article and is not noted in the list from the linked article about the draft regulations:

    A draft for public comment has been completed and will be released soon, which specifically includes the following functions:

    • Lighting: Turn signals, hazard warning lights (double flashers), horn
    • Gear shifting: P/R/N/D (screen-only shifting is prohibited)
    • Driver assistance: Activation switch for the advanced driver assistance system
    • Safety/emergency: Windshield wipers, defroster/defogger, power windows, Child/Accident Emergency Call System (AECS), and electric vehicle power off switch

    My impression was more that if it has that call system, it has to have a physical button for it. That said, I haven’t read the regulations myself, so it’s entirely possible I’m talking out of my ass.

    • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
      3·
      2 days ago

      My work van has an emergency call system and it malfunctioned and dials it all the time, especially in low service areas. This causes it to constantly dial the SOS number and the only way to stop it is push a tiny hang up button on the infotainment system. The hands free controls for calls don’t work with the SOS system. It is incredibly annoying, distracting, and dangerous. It has been back to the dealer 3 times to fix it and has yet to be fixed for good.

      So a physical button for this system is very important.