Indicator stalk, why on the left?...

[Eighteeteewhy]

....when it's so much better on the right.

Ergonomically it make so much more sense. LHD cars don't swap it to the right.

@

[englisharcher]

I have to agree, I far prefer the indicators on the right.

Somehow it feels more natural.

[MSPV12]

I think because most people are right handed, it makes sense not to have to use your right hand to operate the indicators??

[jamei303]

In Barbados they drive on the left and have RHD cars just like us (mostly Jap imports). Their indicator stalks are on the right. Cue much scraping of wipers across the dusty windscreen of the hire car at junctions.

[Flibble]

Presumably because they make a steering column for LHD with it on the left and just bolt it into the other side of the car for us.

[LC2]

Cars built by Car manufacturers from countries that drive on the left (BL/Rover etc from the UK, Honda etc from Japan) typically have the indicator stalk on the right, whereas manufacturers from countries that drive on the left (Yanks, French, German etc.) have the stalk on the left.
They don't manufacture any more components than they have to when building RHD cars.
So we get stuck with the indicator stalk on the wrong side.

[sawman]

My car has indicators on the right, as the switchgear is from a triumph dolomite, I guess they did too. My 1991 mk1 eunos had them there too.

I have been known to wash my windscreen to let other cars out into traffic, or express my dismay etc' when driving the wifes jeep....

Edited by sawman on Friday 18th May 19:21

[chibbard]

My Cerbera's is on the right.

[Triumph Man]

The Triumph has the indicator on the right, when I switch cars I have been known to switch on the wipers when turning, and indicating when I need a wipe

[fozzymandeus]

My car doesn't even have a column stalk on the right.

Merc's use the same stalk for wipers and for indicators. It's the true path.

[sawman]

fozzymandeus said:

doesn't even have a column stalk on the right.

Merc's

Is this why so many mercedes never indicate then?

[lankybob]

My Rover has the stalk on the left but the Allegro has it on the right. It makes you feel like such an arse when you use the wrong one, especially when you wash the windscreen when trying to let someone out of a junction.

[Scuderia2112]

My Micra had it on the left, E-Class on the right. Feels much better with it on the right.

[Parabola]

The indicator stalk is on the right in my MGB. Always takes me a moment to remember it's on the other side when I'm in my other cars!

[fozzymandeus]

Scuderia2112 said:

My Micra had it on the left, E-Class on the right. Feels much better with it on the right.

So the W124 has it on the right? How odd! Is it a combined indicator/wipers job where you twist it for the wipers? Or does it have two column stalks (cruise notwithstanding - strictly speaking the SL has three - all on the left: wipers/indicators(1), cruise(2), steering column adjust(3) )

[ATTAK Z]

UK 350 Zeds have the indicator stalk on the left, whereas JDM ones have it on the right ... work that one out !

[Puddenchucker]

ATTAK Z said:

UK 350 Zeds have the indicator stalk on the left, whereas JDM ones have it on the right ... work that one out !

If you look on the steering column of a UK 350Z you'll see that it has indicator markings (left & right turn arrows) on the RH side by the wiper stalk. So the moulding is the same for both.

[Scuderia2112]

fozzymandeus said:

So the W124 has it on the right? How odd! Is it a combined indicator/wipers job where you twist it for the wipers? Or does it have two column stalks (cruise notwithstanding - strictly speaking the SL has three - all on the left: wipers/indicators(1), cruise(2), steering column adjust(3) )

Yeah it's a twisty push in combined stalk.

[Riff Raff]

Buy a Caterham. It doesn't have a stalk at all...............

[fozzymandeus]

Scuderia2112 said:

Yeah it's a twisty push in combined stalk.

Tah, sounds the same. I like 'em.