Why not have the indicator stalk control on the right hand side of steering wheel...?
My question got deleted, so here is the rephrased version....: I changed from a 1994 Mazda 323 (Protégé) to a 2002 version of the same model. The indicator control switch has been moved from the Right hand side of the steering column, over to the Left hand side.
Driving has become frustrating for me with the new layout, as both cars are manual transmission and RHD (right hand drive). In the old car, I could change gear, indicate and dim the headlights AT THE SAME TIME........ very handy when coming upon pedestrians. But now, in the 2002 car, I'm finding that my left hand often needs to be in TWO places at once!!! When you take the operation of the stereo, heating controls, and handbrake into account.... you have to admit that the left hand is doing all the work. It should be more balanced.
It took me a while to get used to the new setup, but at the start I sometimes blinded oncoming cars at night, if I was in the middle of a gear change, and couldn’t dim to low beam quickly enough. (If I tried to avoid this, by delaying gear change until after the oncoming car has gone past me, I ended up either: over-revving or labouring the engine).
In the first week, I accidently ended up coasting in neutral because the indicator auto-cancelled too early and I abandoned the gear stick half way through a shift.... to get my left hand back up to the stalk.
**** I’ve been told I’m a good driver, and I know I've adapted very well to the new control layout, but I’d still prefer the old setup any day. I'm now asking myself: Why did Mazda change the wiper and indicator controls around?
Possible reasons:
(1) My car is a RHD, but most of the rest of the world are Left hand drive, so in order to save costs.... the designers decided to come up with a Global Standard to suit the majority of users (I checked it out... the 2002 LHD model also has the indicator on the left. So.... if I drove the LHD model... I wouldn't have this problem!).
(2) Partial owner Ford, is after having some sort of influence on design.
(3) Safety..... If a truck splashes the windscreen on a rainy day, my right hand is always ready to activate the "Quick wipe"/One Touch/MIST feature. (Incidentally, the "Quick Wipe" process takes LONGER on the newer car..!! Are we going backwards?!?). However, I would argue against this possible reason for moving the control to the left... as surely an unexpected windscreen splash is a very rare occurrence, and the avoidance of dazzling other drivers should take precedence.
(4) Was the chief designer of the earlier model a Right Brain Dominant individual, and the designer of the newer model Left Brain Dominant? -- or vice-versa?
(5) Was the chief designer of the earlier model Right handed, and the designer of the newer model Left handed? -- or vice-versa?
(6) Was there pressure from some sort of external Regulatory Body pushing to have certain controls in a particular location? (Remember in the 80’s when some cars had the Horn at the end of the indicator stalk... but now ALL cars have the Horn on the steering wheel spoke. Now everybody instinctively knows where it is... which improves safety).
(7) Some combination of the above reasons.
(8) None of the above. It just got changed for no particular reason.
I did some research --> There is no conversion kit available. If only manufacturers offered the option of which side customers would like the stalk to be positioned..... (instead of all the fancy Air-con and trim options...). Designers need to get the basics right; an ergonomic cockpit makes for easier and safer driving.
The old car was my first car and I drove it for around 8 years. Has anybody else been forced to make a change like this? I would especially like to hear answers from drivers who driven both setups for a considerable length of time. Which do you prefer?
Don’t tell me to buy an automatic; they're not as fuel efficient!
Makes no difference at all to me which side they are on.
You are not a particularly good driver if you are getting yourself in a position where you need to do three things at once to avoid accidents or avoid blinding other drivers etc.
Your hand should never need to be in two places at once.
If you are indicating then you do so in plenty of time, then you are free to change gear.
If you are turning, changing gear and trying to dip the headlights then you are not doing things properly.
If you are in a place where there are pedestrians then unless you are in the middle of a country road you should not have your lights on full beam anyway.
I don't actually see what your problem is. All cars have different layouts in some way or another.
it is just a case of getting used to them and driving accordingly until you are familiar.
I, too, would be frustrated if the switch were on the right side of my left hand drive vehicle.
I think standardization isn't the reason - otherwise, the steering wheel should also be moved.
Sounds like a cost cutting deal conjured up by the bean counters.
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