Is the steering wheel on the left or right side in American cars?
2 Answers
In the United States, the steering wheel is on the left side because traffic drives on the right, just like in China. If the steering wheel were on the right side, the driver would not be able to see the traffic and road conditions behind them, so it must be on the left. Some countries drive on the left side of the road, so the steering wheel is on the right. The practice of placing the steering wheel on the left and driving on the right originated from the habit of carriage drivers sitting on the left and keeping to the right. Carriage drivers typically held the whip in their right hand, so it was natural for them to sit on the left side of the carriage for convenience. Currently, countries and regions that drive on the left and have the steering wheel on the right include: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, as well as China's Hong Kong and Macau regions.
As a driver who has been driving in the U.S. for over a decade, I can confidently say that American car steering wheels are typically on the left side. This is because we follow right-hand traffic rules here, and the driver sitting on the left provides better visibility of the road ahead and oncoming traffic. I frequently drive across the country for business trips, from the East Coast to the West Coast, and all vehicles uniformly have the steering wheel on the left, making the driving process safer and more efficient. For example, when making a left turn at an intersection, sitting on the left allows for a clear view of pedestrians and other traffic. Although there may occasionally be imported or vintage cars with exceptions, 99% of everyday vehicles follow this design. New drivers get accustomed to this during training, and if traveling abroad, such as to the UK, where the steering wheel is on the right, it feels particularly awkward. In summary, the left-side steering wheel is the standard configuration to comply with road regulations.
