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Just to get this right. The turn signal is actually "on the wheel"? So it turns with the wheel? How is that even a thing? How are you supposed to press the butt

by kuon 3y ago

Just to get this right. The turn signal is actually "on the wheel"? So it turns with the wheel? How is that even a thing? How are you supposed to press the button if you are in a curve? The roundabout example is a good one, there is about one every 100m here, but there are are also many highway exits which curves a lot (180° or even 270° turn) and you have two lane you have to indicate where you go. One example on the top of my head: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BFCTELKbJpaqqVW39 https://maps.app.goo.gl/BFCTELKbJpaqqVW39 I am not against trying new things, it seems quite dangerous. I am not surprised it got banned from driving school. But I am surprised it was allowed my regulators.

tzs 3y ago
I didn't understand the roundabout example. I'd have expected having the buttons on the wheel to actually make the roundabout situation easier. When I'm driving straight I can reach the turn signal stalk by extending a couple fingers while still keeping that hand holding the steering wheel with the rest of my fingers. If I'm in a turn the wheel is rotated, and my hand might no longer be close enough to the stalk to reach it just by extending a couple of fingers. I might have to let go of the wheel with that hand. If the buttons are on the wheel their position relative to my hand won't change when I turn the wheel, so it should be possible to make wheel based buttons that are equally easy to use and don't require releasing the wheel regardless of whether you are going straight or turning. I can see though that it might depend on the tightness of the turn. If you are in a tight enough turn that the wheel was turned far enough that you needed to reposition your hands and then you needed to signal I think the stalk would win. With the stalk, (1) it is likely near the new position of your hands so you might be able to reach it without losing your grip, and (2) even if it is not near your hands it is in a fixed position in space relative to you so it is easy to go there. If they want to get rid of the stalk I wonder if they considered foot switches? I remember they were fairly common up until at least the '60s for high/low beam switches, so foot switches would not be totally new territory.
- kuon 3y ago
  In a roundabout you nearly always need to reposition your hands. At least in the smaller ones there is around here. And the turn signal is important, because many roundabout have 2 lanes, and if you are in the inner lane, you really need to indicate you want to exit. Also, my technique is to keep my left hand fixed relative to the car (thus near the stalk), and grab the wheel with the right one, the wheel then slide in my left hand and if I need more force, I close my left fist on the wheel and I have one hand at the best possible position to control the wheel with two hands. Anyway, I would really hate having buttons moving with the wheel.

by kuon 3y ago

tzs 3y ago

I didn't understand the roundabout example. I'd have expected having the buttons on the wheel to actually make the roundabout situation easier. When I'm driving straight I can reach the turn signal stalk by extending a couple fingers while still keeping that hand holding the steering wheel with the rest of my fingers. If I'm in a turn the wheel is rotated, and my hand might no longer be close enough to the stalk to reach it just by extending a couple of fingers. I might have to let go of the wheel with that hand. If the buttons are on the wheel their position relative to my hand won't change when I turn the wheel, so it should be possible to make wheel based buttons that are equally easy to use and don't require releasing the wheel regardless of whether you are going straight or turning. I can see though that it might depend on the tightness of the turn. If you are in a tight enough turn that the wheel was turned far enough that you needed to reposition your hands and then you needed to signal I think the stalk would win. With the stalk, (1) it is likely near the new position of your hands so you might be able to reach it without losing your grip, and (2) even if it is not near your hands it is in a fixed position in space relative to you so it is easy to go there. If they want to get rid of the stalk I wonder if they considered foot switches? I remember they were fairly common up until at least the '60s for high/low beam switches, so foot switches would not be totally new territory.

kuon 3y ago
In a roundabout you nearly always need to reposition your hands. At least in the smaller ones there is around here. And the turn signal is important, because many roundabout have 2 lanes, and if you are in the inner lane, you really need to indicate you want to exit. Also, my technique is to keep my left hand fixed relative to the car (thus near the stalk), and grab the wheel with the right one, the wheel then slide in my left hand and if I need more force, I close my left fist on the wheel and I have one hand at the best possible position to control the wheel with two hands. Anyway, I would really hate having buttons moving with the wheel.