No, I don't have a Mazda 3.. but I frequent and participate in organized National Autocross events... so I get to see a bunch of car nuts and their cars... I am a car guy myself.
So, on a 2014 I think I'm giving you the correct instructions. On newer models (IIRC, 2017-18) it is made harder because you have to pull out the computer behind the glovebox and connect with a serial cable (Not hard for us computer guys, eh?) and issue a few commands, but nothing crazy or hard.
The "change" or toggle is permanent from power-offs - You can change it back by following the instructions again.. so no, you do not have to do it all the time or every time you start the car. No, it will not brick your system.
I have heard that some Mazda's simply take a thumbdrive with a "special file" on it... the car starts and looks for this special file and executes it on power-up..
There is not a law, I don't believe, that says touch screens must be deactivated during driving.. it's a manufacturer-made decision. Certainly check you locality and its laws. In any event, they would need to prove that you were using, and distracted, by the system... otherwise, everyone with a cell phone IN A CAR, in an accident, would be held liable for their phone, regardless of if they were using it or not...
Here's a (2018)
random Lawyer's site that has an article about in-car systems and their distractions, inferring that there is no law for such a thing.
Safety is important yes, however, the
Nanny State is strong and people are stupid.
[RANT]
1. Nothing is stopping them from using their phone which is much worse than an in-dash system.
2. Nothing is stopping anyone from mounting TV's or Laptops in their car, mounts and DVD head units are readily available.
3. AND HERE'S MY BIGGEST GRIPE.... OK, so, we used to have these things called "Radios" and "Air conditioners" where there were a myriad of buttons and controls...
were we NOT reaching for those in the middle of the dash for the last 60 years? So what's the difference?
[/RANT]
The entire industry misses the point of the problem. The problem isn't if the screen is enabled or not while you are driving, it's a three-fold problem having to do with anything but...
1. The interfaces are stupid, bloated and overly burdensome, seemingly to be "futuristic". Fix that, and half the problem goes away.
2. Only CERTAIN THINGS should be disabled, not the entire screen. If I, or the passenger wants to change the Music Track or other "one press" things, then let me do it... If Waze or some other "long input" action is needed, OK, fine, disable it.
And last, but not least... It's up to the driver. Period.
Make good decisions and have a good drive. Make bad decisions and have an accident or get lucky. Disabing the infotainment system isn't going to stop any of it... as evidenced by the OP, case in point... Now he's going to have to mount a tiny screen, clunkily dangling from an AC vent - which one is safer again?
All of these things are safe: Phones, Touchscreens in cars, old "Analog" dash buttons - it's the person using it at an IMPROPER TIME that is inherently the problem.
If you are driving, your job is TO DRIVE. That's it. Law and regulation should treat these things as such.. a "people" problem.
Almost everyday I avoid an accident (And I have never caused or been in one) because someone isn't paying attention or otherwise "can't drive" - technology or not. Nobody is out here pulling them over and taking their licenses away or even requiring a rigorous "drive test" at the DMV. It's a written "sign test". The result of the "class" of driver around here due to poor education and lack of useful "reviews" of drivers before being handed their license, is apparent. That's not a problem?
So ya, be safe, activate your Infotainment system and roll on!
