Why do car park ticket machines not use qwerty?

Question

UK councils caught on to the fact that people would share tickets when leaving a car park and started asking you to enter your car registration before dispensing your ticket.
But why do these machines use a three column vertical alpha-numeric set of buttons instead of a horizontal qwerty set that everyone is used to. I find this really annoying!

Additional Details

These machines have 10 buttons for numbers and 26 for the alphabet. So as far as I see there is no reason not have have layed them out in qwerty.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I don't know....I'm still trying to figure out why the 'drive up ATM machines' have Braille on the numbers. How many blind people do you know that drives???

Answer 2

Dont know, I have never seen one like that, but I assume its to save space

Answer 3

Another cost saving exercise eh...wonder how much it cost? Sounds like using a HUGE sledgehammer to crack a very tiny nut.....

Answer 4

Maybe a cynical thought, but an unfamiliar layout increases the chances of getting the number wrong, so they can issue more penalty notices. Also by slowing you down it increases the queuing time and gives them more chance to claim you were parked without a ticket.

Answer 5

Do you mean like on calculators and mobile phones?

Answer 6

Maybe, John M, just maybe, some cars have blind passengers.