Why don't car manufacturers...

[The Black Flash]

...put the main beam switch on the steering wheel?
If you have to dip your mains in mid-corner, or worse, mid gear-change, you have to suddenly scrabble for the lever; or you end up holding your left hand, claw-like, over the switch and not using it for steering. It's clumsy, and I'm amazed that no-one has improved it over the last 40 years or so. And don't get me started on the pull on, pull off toggle type.

Why not a simple button on the steering wheel? Put it on the right hand side, it's always to hand and you never have to move your hand from the wheel. An absolute piece of piss in this day and age.
So over to you...what would you change about the ergonomics of car controls, or is there something particularly good certain manufacturers do which others haven't caught on to?

[vdubbin]

Shuffle steer.
It's quicker to locate a stalk that doesn't move compared to a button that does.

[Silverbullet767]

vdubbin said:

Shuffle steer.
It's quicker to locate a stalk that doesn't move compared to a button that does.

You ever tried changing the steering wheel volume control when the steering wheel is upside down?

[new_bloke]

Our Moggie traveller had the dip switch on the floor. Using it enabled perfect clutchless gear-changes ;-)

[Cock Womble 7]

doogz said:

As for ergonomics/layout, i prefer cars that have the indicator stalk on the offside. Just seems to suit me better. One hand for indicating, one for changing gear/operating hand brake, both for steering.

This makes sense. A global standard would be nice. When I used to work for a hire car company years ago, jumping in and out of diffent makes/models all day, I lost count of the number of times an inconsiderate motorist got a good squirt of my washers for his troubles.

[Cock Womble 7]

doogz said:

You're a mother trucker, is there a convention in lorries?

In my experience, indicators/flash/horn are usually on the left stalk, with wipers on the right, but sometimes wipers are incorporated into this stalk too (as a twist switch), with cruise-control on the right one.

Probably just as much variety as in the car world.

[kambites]

They could just put the indicator stalk on the correct side of the steering wheel, that would help.

[markh1]

The switch for the main beam for the cerb is on the wheel but I actually find it more awkward than other cars. Maybe it's just because I don't use it very often!

[skoff]

It is on the steering wheel on the Cerbera... Though you often end up sounding the horn by accident as that's the botton next to it...

[Pints]

kambites said:

They could just put the indicator stalk on the correct side of the steering wheel, that would help.

Or you could drive a Japanese car.

[kambites]

Pints said:

kambites said:

They could just put the indicator stalk on the correct side of the steering wheel, that would help.

Or you could drive a Japanese car.

Don't even Japanese manufacturers move it to the left for the UK market these days?

I'm still determined to find a way to switch my Elise over.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 13th October 15:57

[BlueMR2]

doogz said:

It'd be harder to get to, if it was mounted on the steering wheel. At least a stalk doesn't move.

As for ergonomics/layout, i prefer cars that have the indicator stalk on the offside. Just seems to suit me better. One hand for indicating, one for changing gear/operating hand brake, both for steering.

Most german and other cars designed for LHD have the stalks set correctly then when they make it RHD they just move them over, hence being on the wrong side for us RHDers. My '95 MR2 had the indicator on the right and its easy to indicate and steer with just one hand. Much more efficent and erganomic.

The manufacturers are simply to cheap to switch the electronics round for the smaller RHD market.

[V88Dicky]

Cock Womble 7 said:

doogz said:

As for ergonomics/layout, i prefer cars that have the indicator stalk on the offside. Just seems to suit me better. One hand for indicating, one for changing gear/operating hand brake, both for steering.

This makes sense. A global standard would be nice. When I used to work for a hire car company years ago, jumping in and out of diffent makes/models all day, I lost count of the number of times an inconsiderate motorist got a good squirt of my washers for his troubles.

I think we've had a similar discussion before about which side the indicator should be on. The side nearest the door (RHD or LHD) was generally perceived to be the correct side. The only reason most cars for sale in the UK have them on the left is for cost savings, ie only one indicator unit required for all cars RHD/LHD.

Nice to see the Aussies and Japs doggedly sticking to having them on the 'correct' side


Damn, beaten to it!

Edited by V88Dicky on Wednesday 13th October 16:02

[The Black Flash]

vdubbin said:

Shuffle steer.
It's quicker to locate a stalk that doesn't move compared to a button that does.

Even when shuffle steering, your hands move though. I very rarely need to move either hand from the wheel for driving on NSL roads, though you have a point for slower work.

A repeater switch on the wheel then - apart from the cerb, I've never seen a car with such a thing, even as an option.

And certainly agree on the indicator stalk, though I'm kind of resigned to that now.

[rossyIIa]

My vote is put it in the foot well by the clutch, My old Land Rover has it there and it's brilliant. Perfect position as you shouldn't be de-clutching or left foot breaking, on the public roads, mid bend.

[bigdods]

while we are at it can we please have the horn somewhere sensible. Like a press in of the high beam/indicator stalk as fitted to my old cortina. Or a big button in the middle of the steering wheel (like the TVR). On cars with the horn buttons on the sides of the steering wheel I neve rmanaged to make them work when I need them. It takes a few moments of planning to hit them just right.

No good when trying to warn someone that hasnt seen you *sigh*