Why are the steering wheels of buses/trucks/lorries more or less angled horizontally instead of the angle seen in cars?
In: Engineering
It comes down to engineering and physics. I’m sure a mechanical engineer can describe the calculations better than I can. But basically the bus driver is positioned as close to the front of the bus as possible. This allows the drivers perception to be precise because they are closer to the front of the bus. But being closer to the front means the steering wheel needs to be closer as well. There now is less available space for a steering wheel and the mechanics involved to move the front wheels.
Imagine taking a normal car and moving the front of the car so that it’s just one foot in front of your steering wheel to the head lights. Now there’s now where for the mechanics of the steering system to go but backwards. This results in the steering column being about 45 degrees to about 80 degrees.
Answering your question of why, it comes down to efficiency. If the area of a hood or bonnet can be taken up with more useful space to accommodate carrying a product or transporting people, then making the sacrifice of comfort is well worth the pay off.
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