why do car manufacturers tend to put the hand brake on the passenge side rather than the driver side?

Question

Like the Mazda MX5 mk2 or MG TF.

Answer 1

I'm unsure of your location but by your question and the cars you listed I assume you drive on the right. Both the cars you listed are made by in countries that drive on the left i.e. Japan & UK. I live in the UK and drive a Skoda Octavia (basically a VW Jetta / Golf Audi A3 etc) this has the handbrake to the left of centre (i.e. closer to my passenger seat.) with the centre arm rest in place this makes it difficult to apply the handbrake. However for the majority of drivers of these cars i.e. who drive on the right this is easier. As a previous answer stated it is more cost effective the have a single handbrake position than change it with left or right hand drive models.

Answer 2

Each automobile i've been in the place the "hand brake" wasn't a pedal underneath the dashboard it was once between the front seats. As many individuals have already stated, one advantage is that either the passenger or the motive force can use it in an emergency. An additional advantage is that the middle of most automobiles is customarily an effortless place to run the cables again to the rear wheels, on the grounds that they can be run subsequent to the driveshaft in a rear wheel force automobile or the exhaust in a front wheel drive. Either method there's on the whole a tunnel walking back from the engine compartment wherein there may be greater than sufficient room for one or two little cables. If some automobiles have the brake between the front seats but towards the passenger aspect, it might definitely be seeing that they had been at the beginning designed for the driver to be on the proper (the place the brake manage would be towards the motive force), and when they modified the automobiles for overseas markets (like the united states) where we drive on the opposite aspect, it was once determined that the region of the handbrake was still usable from the driver's seat and accordingly they failed to ought to spend more money moving it (so long as the driving force can use it conveniently, it would not need to be transformed. If the driving force can not readily use it, the manufacturer can be flagged with the aid of businesses like client studies and the DOT in view that in an emergency the handbrake needs to be conveniently utilized by the driver in the role they often sit in at the same time driving). They might without difficulty use the equal floorpan they already had as a substitute than retooling, or at the least they needed to do less retooling and use the existing handbrake assembly alternatively than having to buy two distinctive assemblies. This is sensible when you consider that in manufacturing it expenses extra to make two distinct constituents than it does to make twice as many of just one part. I'm hoping this helps.

Answer 3

Every car I've been in where the "hand brake" wasn't a pedal under the dashboard it was between the front seats. As many people have already said, one benefit is that either the passenger or the driver can use it in an emergency. Another benefit is that the center of most cars is generally an easy place to run the cables back to the rear wheels, because they can be run next to the driveshaft in a rear wheel drive car or the exhaust in a front wheel drive. Either way there is usually a tunnel running back from the engine compartment in which there is more than enough room for one or two little cables. If some cars have the brake between the front seats but closer to the passenger side, it would most likely be because they were originally designed for the driver to be on the right (where the brake handle would be closer to the driver), and when they changed the cars for foreign markets (like the US) where we drive on the opposite side, it was determined that the location of the handbrake was still usable from the driver's seat and therefore they didn't have to spend more money moving it (as long as the driver can use it easily, it doesn't need to be changed. If the driver can't easily use it, the manufacturer would be flagged by organizations like Consumer Reports and the DOT because in an emergency the handbrake needs to be easily used by the driver in the position they normally sit in while driving). They could simply use the same floorpan they already had rather than retooling, or at least they needed to do less retooling and use the existing handbrake assembly rather than having to buy two different assemblies. This makes sense because in manufacturing it costs more to make two different parts than it does to make twice as many of just one part. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Mainly for ease of manufacture, if its in the middle it will not need extra engineering from left to right hand drive cars, although some cars that are made for a specific market like a Japanese car that's made for the Japanese right hand drive market is designed with no regard for left hand drive production, you find Japanese and British cars indicator stocks are on different side than every other car, because they are designed to be operated if your hand was on the gear stick, the first Mercedes built specifically for RHD was in 2001 e class, previously even the drivers arm rest was on the passengers seat, and the bonnet pull on the left lots of subtle differences direction that the wipers clear the screen there's loads

Answer 5

My guess would be that it makes it accessible to the passenger in case of an emergency, plus it eases conversion between left and right hand drive models.
That said, I own a Toyota Previa (an old one) and that has the handbrake beside the driver's door.

Answer 6

the handbrake is most o the time in the middle of the car never been in a car where the handbrake was on the passenger side that would be a little bit difficult when have to place it on and take it off again

Answer 7

Umm well because where would you put it to the right side?? they put it in the middle so it is high up and easily accessible. Also if the driver say has heart attack the passenger can stop the car safely.

Answer 8

Car manufactures produce both right hand and left hand steering models.
It makes economic sense to have the handbrake in the middle to suit both types of car.
Just a calculation of cost per unit (car).

Answer 9

one reason why the put the hand brake in the center is because in the event of a brake failure both your feet are occupied and if your paying attention you can apply the emergancy brake with a hand. also reduced cost of manufacturing. and, believe it or not its easier to see if its applied so stupid people dont drive off with it applied, but in america it happens often, very often. but you also half to remember not all american vehicles use a hand e-brake, trucks still have a foot operated e-brake next to the drivers left foot or a hand operated e-brake next to the drivers right knee....

Answer 10

Its probably because these cars where originaly designed for their home market .They both drive on the left so the drivers sit on the right side thus making it easier to pull on the handbrake.