Why are some car controls so hard to use? Blame Tesla, for starters

It's a design truism - but one frequently ignored by automakers - that users want choice. Some people are perfectly happy using a touch screen and spoken commands. Others want the precise, immediate response of hard controls - dials, buttons and toggles. — Photo by Samuele Errico Piccarini on Unsplash

I'll tell you a secret: When automakers tell you flat-panel and touch screen controls for audio, air conditioning and heat are better, they mean better for them, not you.

Customers, critics and safety groups have complained for a decade about controls that distract and take your eyes off the road. Complicated multifunction rotary-dial controls and touch screens for frequently used features are among the prime offenders.