Right Hand Drive Cars, Left Hand Drive Controls.
Discussion
Does anybody remember the days when Cars sold in Britain were suited to progressive and spirited Driving.
I am specifically talking about the controls for Lights, indicators and Wipers. on Manual vehicles.
Now all cars (that I know of) have the Lights and indicators on the left of the Colum and the Wipers on the right.
(check yours) now in the days when these were opposite you could drive with right hand always on the wheel and in charge of indicators and lights.
Your left hand was then free to control the gearchange and the Wipers would look after themselves.
As you are driving, see how many times you have a choice to make, either, change gear, indicate or flash, whereas if the indicators and lights were controlled on the right you would not be in that position.
Sorry if I have not explained this very well but all cars are now designed for Left Hand drive so the Controls are better set-up on the Colum for Left Hand Drive cars.
If there is nothing in this then why are the wipers always on the left, check yours.
On Manual Left Hand drive cars your right hand only has to change gear.
After Brexit can manufactures set our cars controls for right hand drive cars.
If you consider yourself a spirited driver then the best control layout is to have the Wipers on the left stalk.
Regards
Joscyn
I am specifically talking about the controls for Lights, indicators and Wipers. on Manual vehicles.
Now all cars (that I know of) have the Lights and indicators on the left of the Colum and the Wipers on the right.
(check yours) now in the days when these were opposite you could drive with right hand always on the wheel and in charge of indicators and lights.
Your left hand was then free to control the gearchange and the Wipers would look after themselves.
As you are driving, see how many times you have a choice to make, either, change gear, indicate or flash, whereas if the indicators and lights were controlled on the right you would not be in that position.
Sorry if I have not explained this very well but all cars are now designed for Left Hand drive so the Controls are better set-up on the Colum for Left Hand Drive cars.
If there is nothing in this then why are the wipers always on the left, check yours.
On Manual Left Hand drive cars your right hand only has to change gear.
After Brexit can manufactures set our cars controls for right hand drive cars.
If you consider yourself a spirited driver then the best control layout is to have the Wipers on the left stalk.
Regards
Joscyn
Edited by Joscyn on Friday 29th June 06:55
Isn’t this more down to the vast majority of the World driving on right? It would have so much better if the World had agreed on which side to drive on before it became far too expensive and complicated to change. But they didn’t so the poor UK motorist is hindered in driving in their spiritied manner.
After Brexit? This must be the most niche take on the „advantages“ of Brexit. I highly doubt that the positioning of control stalks in cars in some evil EU directive. Which UK manufacturers would suddenly change, those giants of the car industry – Morgan?
After Brexit? This must be the most niche take on the „advantages“ of Brexit. I highly doubt that the positioning of control stalks in cars in some evil EU directive. Which UK manufacturers would suddenly change, those giants of the car industry – Morgan?
Edited by RedWhiteMonkey on Friday 29th June 07:39
Super Slo Mo said:
The OP makes little sense, any competent driver will be planning each move as necessary anyway, and shouldn’t be overlapping tasks.
There's plenty of situations where you need to be able to dip your headlights in a hurry with no prior warning. Nothing to do with "spirited driving" admittedly, but having the indicators and headlight dip on the same side as the gear sick is still ergonomically stupid. IMO the best solution would be for us to switch to driving on the right like almost everywhere else in the developed world.
Edited by kambites on Friday 29th June 08:24
ARHarh said:
In all the years I have been driving I don't think I have ever thought do I indicate or change gear. I passed my test in 1981. I do however have 2 cars with indicators on the right and 2 with them on the left. I often indicate my intension to turn by flicking the wipers :_)
Oh, now I realise why so many cars don't use indicators at roundabouts.I'll watch for the wipers in future.
I'd argue that if you're shifting, flashing your lights and indicating at the same time, perhaps you're not using enough of a system? 
You forget the benefits of modern motoring - Automatic wipers and lights!
With regard to indicators on the left; Just tap it in the relevant direction on the way down to or up from the shifter, depending on the direction required?
You forget the benefits of modern motoring - Automatic wipers and lights!
With regard to indicators on the left; Just tap it in the relevant direction on the way down to or up from the shifter, depending on the direction required?
TooLateForAName said:
Well, the obvious issue here isnt the positioning of the switches.
Move the steering wheel to the other side of the car and change which side of the road we drive on.
Would certainly mean most people would get to change gear with their dominant hand, though the rise of automatics probably make that moot. Move the steering wheel to the other side of the car and change which side of the road we drive on.
Super Slo Mo said:
The OP makes little sense, any competent driver will be planning each move as necessary anyway, and shouldn’t be overlapping tasks.
Unless he/she is the lazy type who always keeps a hand on the gear lever.
A spot of advanced driver training might be in order OP.
You can equally plan to overlap tasks as well, if you are more than just competent anyway. Unless he/she is the lazy type who always keeps a hand on the gear lever.
A spot of advanced driver training might be in order OP.
Mirror, signal, manouevre.
Do them one at a time, not simultaneously.
Under what circumstances would you need to flash your headlights at the same time as changing gear?
Why would you be changing gear at the same time as flicking the indicator? Sounds like you're signalling too late.
"Spirited driver"?
Do them one at a time, not simultaneously.
Under what circumstances would you need to flash your headlights at the same time as changing gear?
Why would you be changing gear at the same time as flicking the indicator? Sounds like you're signalling too late.
"Spirited driver"?
Doofus said:
Mirror, signal, manouevre.
Do them one at a time, not simultaneously.
Under what circumstances would you need to flash your headlights at the same time as changing gear?
Why would you be changing gear at the same time as flicking the indicator? Sounds like you're signalling too late.
Don't spoil his fun, he's on a proper gammon rant. It's all Johnny Foreigner's fault, not his for simple incompetence.Do them one at a time, not simultaneously.
Under what circumstances would you need to flash your headlights at the same time as changing gear?
Why would you be changing gear at the same time as flicking the indicator? Sounds like you're signalling too late.
Yes, and today I have a mixture. new Jap stuff, indicator on right, old British on right, German on left. There was post on this before, also fuel cap on drivers side, exhaust pipe on drivers side.
I always believed we should have used this as a tool protect our car industry when we joined the EEC, you want to bring cars here, move he light stalks, exhaust and fuel filler, but we never tried to use rules to help ourselves.
Car exhaust exiting on to the center line should be better in stationary traffic, as the heavy particles drop anecdotal never seen any figures.
I always believed we should have used this as a tool protect our car industry when we joined the EEC, you want to bring cars here, move he light stalks, exhaust and fuel filler, but we never tried to use rules to help ourselves.
Car exhaust exiting on to the center line should be better in stationary traffic, as the heavy particles drop anecdotal never seen any figures.
RHD cars sold in Europe (UK, Malta, Cyprus, etc.) usually have the indicator stalk on the left hand side of the steering column and the wiper controls on the right hand side.
RHD cars sold outside of Europe usually have the indicator stalk on the right hand side of the steering column and the wiper controls on the left hand side.
I don't know why this is, but I think it feels more comfortable on the right.
Examples I've come across:
- Suzuki Swift - UK model has indicator stalk on left, but the one I had in Barbados had it on the right side
- Hyundai i10 - UK model has indicator stalk on left, but the one I had in Seychelles had it on the right side
- Nissan Qashqai - first generation - UK model has the indicator stalk on the left hand side of the steering wheel, but when the UK-built Qashqai was exported to Japan as the Dualis, the indicator stalk was fitted to the right hand size
RHD cars sold outside of Europe usually have the indicator stalk on the right hand side of the steering column and the wiper controls on the left hand side.
I don't know why this is, but I think it feels more comfortable on the right.
Examples I've come across:
- Suzuki Swift - UK model has indicator stalk on left, but the one I had in Barbados had it on the right side
- Hyundai i10 - UK model has indicator stalk on left, but the one I had in Seychelles had it on the right side
- Nissan Qashqai - first generation - UK model has the indicator stalk on the left hand side of the steering wheel, but when the UK-built Qashqai was exported to Japan as the Dualis, the indicator stalk was fitted to the right hand size
TooMany2cvs said:
Don't spoil his fun, he's on a proper gammon rant. It's all Johnny Foreigner's fault, not his for simple incompetence.
I'm surprised he didn't whinge about us having to put up with 1st gear being furthest away, because the EU has decreed that Proper Europeans must have it closest to them.And why do we have to have our pedals in the same order as that lot too?
Still, these are just more things to add to the list of stuff that I am sure will be changed as soon as we are out from under the yolk of our oppressors.
Even though it's got f
k all to do with the EU.I currently have 4 cars on the road, each is different, one has indicators on the right, 4 gears and overdrive, two others have 6 speed gearboxes the other 5 gears, one you push the wiper end to wash the screen the other it does the rear screen,
two have ignition switch on the right, one on the left the other has a place in the dash to put the fob,
I manage,
two have ignition switch on the right, one on the left the other has a place in the dash to put the fob,
I manage,
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