Where is the steering wheel located in American cars?
1 Answers
American cars have the driver's position on the left side of the vehicle, the same as in mainland China, meaning they are left-hand drive cars and drive on the right side of the road. The vast majority of countries worldwide have the steering wheel on the left side, with only Commonwealth countries having it on the right. The placement of the steering wheel on the left or right primarily depends on a country's traffic regulations. If the traffic laws dictate driving on the right, the steering wheel is placed on the left to facilitate better observation of road conditions without obstruction from vehicles ahead, especially crucial during overtaking. If placed in the center, visibility could be blocked by the vehicle in front, affecting safety. In some countries like Japan, where traffic regulations require driving on the left, the steering wheel is placed on the right. The main advantage of left-hand traffic is its potential to reduce traffic accident fatalities, primarily for two reasons. First: Humans have an innate instinct to avoid harm. When moving quickly and detecting danger ahead, people instinctively lean or turn to the left, allowing them to use their right hand (usually the dominant hand) to protect their body and shield the left side where the heart is located.
