It really sounds like when this change was put into place, there were two people in the car: one monitoring the road in the driver position and a second monitor

It really sounds like when this change was put into place, there were two people in the car: one monitoring the road in the driver position and a second monitoring the vehicle and systems in the passenger seat (with the screen). Once they decided to eliminate the second position and make the driver do both, they should have either let the car apply brake or, as you say, provide a loud alert.