DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour  

I’ve written several pieces on the technological evolution of the lowly steering wheel, mainly how it has become a repository for redundant audio controls and other functions that allow the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road but still be able to change stations, adjust temperatures in some cases or whathaveyou.

But it wasn’t until the other day when I was in Los Angeles driving with my editor that he gave me food for thought when we began to discuss how steering wheels have evolved in size. Never one to badmouth a higher-up (at least in person) I faked sincerity (as I’ve practiced to perfection) and praised him for his wisdom in planting the seeds for a possible feature.

This is it, Gang. It doesn’t get much better than this. If you don’t like it then you can blame my editor because it’s not ME that will let my readers down. But…I digress.

When the subject of steering wheel size was first raised it triggered a thought in me that I hadn’t realized; I’ve been observing steering wheels almost as long as I’ve been alive. Originally they came in all shapes and sizes…as long as the size was big. There’s no sense discussing some of the wheels that steered early vehicles like Reos, Stutzes, Auburns, etc.

I’m old but not THAT old. My vehicular memories began primarily in the late-‘40s/early-‘50s. It was during this era that I rode a school bus to my “institutes of learning.” I would sometimes sit near the front and watch Mr. White or Mr. Hotter whip the large yellow bus around corners by turning a steering wheel that looked to be about the size of a tractor tire.

Both drivers had to practically stand to be able to get enough torque to move the wheel. I must have been thinking about that when I began to notice the size of the steering wheels in normal family cars; they weren’t much smaller than that. As I grew to learn more about cars I discovered that since most, if not all vehicles during that era only had manual steering it took a bit more oomph to give a solid turn of those rings of Saturn.  

Then power steering became more and more prevalent and as a result there wasn’t the necessity to reach parody with a tandem-axle Kenworth Class 8 truck. Steering wheels became smaller and even came to the attention of designers who often times crafted them into works of art.

During the ramp-up of passenger safety a lot of the wheels were recessed in the center so in the eventuality of a crash, instead of saying good-bye to a perfectly good set of teeth the driver would sometimes luck out and just wind up with a horrific headache. But at least he could chew an aspirin or two with his intact choppers.

Steering wheels then evolved into smaller and more manageable devices…many being made up of new materials like plastics, leather wrapping and even wood (some real, some faux and others laminated). Then, as mentioned earlier, the steering wheel began to share controls with some of the vehicle’s technologies.

Now a new phenomenon has emerged and it’s one I like very much; some manufacturers are designing their steering wheels with flat bottoms. By that I mean at the 6 o’clock position. Not only does it look more stylish and sporty but it actually gives a modicum more room for people with larger thighs like…er…my Uncle Barney. Couple that with up/down, in/out adjustable wheels and you have the makings of much easier ingress and egress. There have been times that I…I mean Uncle Barney…could actually steer a vehicle just using my…I mean HIS stomach.

I don’t know what further changes can or will be made to steering wheel design and usage. Right now I’d say it’s time to move on because that portion of vehicular evolution has reached its zenith. I don’t foresee vehicles being steered using devices that monitor head and eye movement. Think about it; what would happen if somebody with that type technology was listening to, let’s say, Fox News and he heard something that he just couldn’t fathom?

The normal tendency is to shake ones head in the “No” position. In that case the vehicle would weave almost uncontrollably from side-to-side, much like Paddy McGuire driving home from his favorite Dublin pub on a Saturday night. He’s usually enough of a danger to others on the roads; imagine what he’d be then.

My advice is to enjoy the point we’re at regarding steering wheel evolution. There are many other topics to be broached. After all…we STILL have to stop and exit a vehicle in order to use the rest room.