It won't be a fad if it's cheaper to add a touch screen than adding mechanical switch gear to cars. I agree with the article though, it can be dangerous. Unless there are legal consequences, I don't see touch screens going away.

In Germany, a driver got in trouble for adjusting his wiper speed on the touch screen, then drove off the road from the distraction,[1] but I'm not aware of other rulings.

> "The touch screen built into the Tesla brand vehicle is an electronic device [...] which the driver of the vehicle is only permitted to operate under the conditions of this regulation without it being a matter of what purpose the driver is pursuing with the operation.

> The setting of the functions necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle via touchscreen (here: setting the wiping interval of the windshield wiper) is therefore only permitted if this is done with only a brief glance at the screen that is adapted to the road, traffic, visibility and weather conditions at the same time corresponding averted view of the traffic is connected ".

[1] https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=auto&tl=en&u=h...