Car designers just can't resist messing with automatic transmissions:
Back when cars only had three manual speeds and reverse, the possibility of mixing up the gears was minimal. At least you had a one in four chance of getting it right. But after the popularization of the automatic transmission in the 1950s, the controls for gear selection became a question of both design and ergonomics.
In 1971, the Department of Transportation mandated automatics use the PRNDL—say"prindle"—layout. The impetus of this law, like so many automotive regulations, stemmed from the 1965 book, in which Ralph Nader called out General Motors, Studebaker, and Rambler for using confusing transmission designs that put Reverse after Drive. Nader cited crashes resulting from drivers missing the intended gear and accelerating in the wrong direction. The PNDLR pattern was dangerous, he asserted.
Despite the seemingly obvious driver benefit of keeping shift patterns consistent across cars and brands, designers just can't stop playing with their alphabet soup. These days, the mechanical connections that once limited how wacky a company could get with its shifter are gone, and shift-by-wire gear selectors give automakers additional interior-design flexibility since there's no physical link between the shifter and the transmission.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Autocar writers' cars of 2022: Toyota GR86 | AutocarAutocar writers' cars of 2022: The hugely entertaining and beautifully balanced Toyota GR86 is IllyaVerpraet's car of the year - find out why
Read more »
How Pantone’s Color of the Year brightened the lives of Southern California designersVirginia Odien of Riverside and Jeanetta Gonzales of Culver City got to preview Viva Magenta.
Read more »
U.N. urges Taliban to reverse ban on female foreign aid workersA senior U.N. official has urged Afghanistan's Taliban administration to reverse a ban on female humanitarian workers that charities fear will worsen winter hardships.
Read more »
U.N. official meets Taliban, urges reverse of NGO female worker banThe acting head of the United Nations' mission to Afghanistan told the Taliban administration's acting economy minister to reverse a decision to ban female NGO workers during a meeting, according to a statement on Monday.
Read more »
Illinois State Trooper hits man who got out of his car on I-94Two accidents were reported on Interstate 94 about five minutes apart early Sunday morning, according to Illinois State Police.
Read more »