Which Side is the Steering Wheel on a US-Spec Car?
2 Answers
US-spec cars have the steering wheel on the left side. The steering wheel is a wheel-shaped device used to control the direction of vehicles such as cars, ships, and airplanes. It is generally connected to the steering shaft via splines and functions by converting the force applied by the driver on the wheel's edge into torque, which is then transmitted to the steering shaft. A larger-diameter steering wheel reduces the hand force required from the driver when turning. US-spec cars refer to vehicles produced by foreign manufacturers on the same assembly line, with their computer systems indicating they are destined for the Americas, including both South and North America. These cars come with proper documentation. In the market, imported cars come in various versions, such as US-spec, China-spec, Middle East edition, and European edition.
A friend who drives a US-spec car asked me this question, and I have to say the steering wheel is on the left. Because US traffic rules require driving on the right side, the driver's seat is designed on the left to give you a better view of oncoming traffic. When I drove a US-spec pickup, I felt that left-hand drive is especially convenient for overtaking on highways, and you can even gauge the distance to the roadside curb when making right turns. However, if you drive a car imported from a right-hand drive country, it's a hassle—even the rearview mirror position is reversed. By the way, Japanese cars bought in North America also have left-hand drive, just like in continental Europe. When buying parallel-imported cars, pay attention to whether the steering wheel position matches local traffic regulations—don’t invite trouble just to save money.
