A recent article in The Conversation on-line newsletter articles written by professional researchers titled “Yes, those big touchscreens in cars are dangerous and buttons are coming back” highlights a growing recognition that technology often moves faster than our ability to use it safely.

To add perspective, we’re replaying an interview recorded four years ago with Emeritus Professor Mike Regan, who had been working in this field well before it became a popular talking point. He discusses the importance of linking engineering with psychology through his work in human factors, and why transport systems must be designed around human limits.

Most striking is his reflection on predictions made nearly 30 years ago about increasing driver distraction, and whether those warnings have now come true. It’s a reminder that some of today’s “new” debates have been quietly building for decades.