As a slightly older person (mid 50s) who just started wearing glasses I will say that multi focal lenses have not been very important driving. I am mostly looking outside the car and can read the dash fine (with my prescription). I actually have more trouble using a laptop and referring to something written or closer than the laptop screen.

My eye doctor asked, during my last visit, if I wanted a prescription for reading glasses and then asked if I wanted them to read close up (book, phone, etc) or for a laptop.

So, to make a guess at an answer to your question: Maybe different people have different needs.