Miss the Floor-Mounted Dimmer Switch?First Faved : Dec 16 2008 by darrellpFaved : 1 time with noteViewed : 3 timesFave It!
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- darrellp - Dec 16 2008 | cars ergonomics
The lame reason that automakers moved the dimmer switch from the floor to the steering column. I've wondered for a long time why they would move it from the floor where it was operated with a left foot that has nothing else to do (at least in an automatic) to a steering column where your hand is involved in the rather important job of STEERING THE CAR!!!
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I disagree with this post. In every car I've owned, I haven't had to remove my hand from the wheel to activate a stalk-mounted dimmer. I think it's safer than the floor switch and the foot brake is one reason.
The fact that you have to do anything other than steer is a bad thing in my opinion, especially when your foot is down there doing nothing at all. With no disrespect, I'm just curious whether you've driven with a foot dimmer switch? I found it a much better way of handling things.
Yes, of course, I've driven with a foot dimmer switch. My first car was a 1964 Chevy Belair, back when those cars used to be decent. My second car was a 1971 Belair, also with a foot switch. I can't recall the configuration of the two cars followed (Dodge Colt, VW Rabbit), but I know the cars after that (Hondas, plus one Acura and a Toyota) all had stalk mounted bright controls.
First off, on a manual transmission car, I think having another use for either foot is just a bad idea. But, even on an automatic, I think using the hand is fine. It's not like you should be switching your brights on and off all the time -- basically, you should never be in a rush to turn them on and sometimes you might be in a rush to turn them off.
If you want really stupid, consider the 1979 Ford Futura where they moved the horn to the end of the turn signal stalk. Rather than hitting the middle of the steering wheel or maybe even pushing buttons with your thumbs, you had to push in the end of the turn signal stalk to honk the horn. You could only do it with your left hand and only with your fingertips while holding the wheel. Dumb!