Ever Wondered Why Some Cars Have Turn Signal Stalks On Different Sides? Here's The Answer

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If you had the chance to drive different cars, you may have realised that some cars have their turn signal stalk on the left-hand side, and others on the right-hand side. This small difference could lead to accidental wiper swipes whenever you want to activate your blinkers.

Most European automakers originally designed their cars for right-hand drive markets, meaning the driver sits on the right side of the car and drives on the left side of the road. As a result, the turn signal stalk is positioned on the right side of the steering column. This arrangement allows the driver to operate the turn signal with the right hand while shifting gears with the left — this is especially beneficial for manual transmission vehicles.

On the other hand, in countries where drivers are seated on the left side of the car, such as the US, the turn signal stalk is positioned on the left side of the steering wheel.

When automakers expanded into the opposite-hand drive markets, rather than redesigning the layout, many chose to keep the stalk at its original position for consistency and cost efficiency.

Reversing the stalk position for right-hand drive models isn't as simple as flipping it over — it would require re-engineering the entire steering column and control system. That means extra costs in design, production, and assembly. To streamline manufacturing and keep expenses low, many brands decided to stick with the original placement, even in markets where it feels less intuitive.