Why do car manufacturers tend to put the hand brake near the passenge side rather than the driver side?
Answers:
I take you 're asking why the lever is closer to the passenger seat. I believe it's to do with UK cars being right hand drive..
The lever is positioned for the majority of car buyers (ie left hand drive) hence the gap to get your hand round it from the left front seat. All other controls are transferred but the old brake lever gets left behind. (Try sitting in the passenger seat - you'll find its well placed for use from that side)
Ha, I have no idea, maybe its there was of making sure you cop a feel and have an excuse! I have to get me one of those cars if thats the case! lol xxx
its for the passenger to use if you pass out
If the hand brake was situated on the drivers side, then it would be in your way when you wanted to get out of the car. What I don't like is they always put the ashtray on the left, which for most smokers is on the wrong side, that's for right hand smokers, which are the majority.
Should the driver loose consciousness, the passenger can brake if necessary.
this is the truth.
They don't. It's either on the center console area, or the drivers side. If your passenger has their leg throw over the center console, tell them to stop that.
It's in the middle - how is that on the passenger side rather than the driver's?
most handbrakes are positioned centrall because the cable extending from the lever connects to a yoke that allows equal pressure to be applied to the back brakes.
this is the most efficient and simple system
Also, the central positioning of the h/b lever is the least intrusive , as you are less likely to have to climb past it.
Some older cars had the brake on the door side but with everything being multinational nowadays it is there for right or left hand drive cars, plus as previously mention to give equal force to both rear brakes.
Anyway, many years back I had a car with the brake on the right (Jaguar Mk2) and at least twice I caught my trousers over the brake lever and fell out of the car! Mercedes don't even have a hand brake lever but a hand brake pedal and a lever on the dash board to release it.
Incidentally, never rely, on a modern car, on the handbrake alone. If you do, as the car cools down the brake pads slip and the car can run away if parked on a hill. I recently found a Toyota sideways across the road where this had just happened and the car rolled back out of his drive across the road. Always put it in gear as well. You have been warned!
You have no problem! try the merc handbrake (foot operated) on a busy car park where you enter on a steep incline, you can`t slip it, it`s on on or off.
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