Why are steering wheels on buses positioned more horizontally than vertically?
A friend casually raised this issue the other day over lunch and it stuck with me. I assume it has something to with better handling but I don’t know for sure.
In: Other
to add to the “its for leverage” explanation, another big reason is because of the ergonomics of how you sit when driving a truck or bus. Unlike a passenger vehicle, where you’re more reclined and the lower half of your body is tucked under a dashboard and the steering wheel is on top of you.. in a truck or bus you’re usually sitting very upright in an air-seat (usually) which has a LOT of vertical travel to help take up the “bounce” that the chassis experiences when bounding down the road.
When you’re sitting upright in what’s essentially a bouncy-seat, it’s a lot more ergonomic and comfortable to rest your arms down at your sides, with your forearms extended forward, grabbing hold of a big, oversized steering wheel that’s laying more flat (vs standing vertical/upright). Imagine holding onto an upright steering wheel out in front of you, like you would in a car.. now imagine your entire seat flying up and down (sometimes a good 8-10″ if you’re going over big bumps).
Your arms would be flexing up and down a lot because the steering wheel is stationary (your seat is not).
Now imagine trying to steer a big truck, which can sometimes take both hands turning the wheel hand over hand 3 or 4 times to get the wheel rotated enough to make a turn, then back, with an upright steering wheel! Besides being extremely unnatural and difficult to do.. your legs would also be slamming into the bottom of the wheel every time the seat lifted when going over bumps!
Now imagine trying to do the same, but with the steering wheel laying flat (horizontal to the ground). Sometimes when the road is REALLY bumpy, you find yourself using the big flat wheel in front of you as a sort of handle bar! It’s a lot easier to turn lock-to-lock with a truck’s heavy steer tires when you’re pushing and pulling a horizontal steering wheel, vs trying to lift one side of the wheel and push the other side downward (if the wheel was vertical).
I know that was long-winded, but I hope it helps explain the whole “experience” of driving a truck/bus and why the steering wheel is the way it is.. more so than just “because it gives you more leverage” 😛
Cheers.
Latest Answers