Steering yokes are used in race cars where the driver is on a closed course and needs to have the added visibility that is offered.
These yokes have been developed to have all of the controls and buttons that a driver needs to have in front of them when racing around a track, and these items are often installed separately to secure the driver in the cabin area with little space to move during a race. Is this a situation that can work well for vehicles that are driven on the roads?
Made for Racing, Built for Sports Cars
We do see some vehicles in the market today that are being offered with a yoke-style steering wheel instead of the traditional round model that you normally see? Adding this item to the mix gives you a sportier feeling and drive than you would have when you have the traditional model. That doesn’t mean that you will feel safer or more secure driving with the use of a steering wheel that is shaped differently and is missing the top half of the item.
What we don’t know just yet is whether or not steering yokes are going to be safe and legal on the road. So far, the NHTSA hasn’t made a judgment call on this item. This feature takes the flat-bottom steering wheel you find on some models, especially from Nissan, and gives you a lot more of the sporty feeling you’re looking for. When you’re looking at the latest version of the Tesla Model S, you will find a yoke instead of a wheel to place your hands during your drive. This item is also being added to the Lexus LF-Z Concept and MG Cyberster concept, but it’s not yet going to be a common feature of the vehicles you’ll want to drive.
The List Doesn’t Stop at Tesla
You can find a yoke-style steering wheel in more models today than just the Model S from Tesla. In fact, Tesla is planning to offer it as an option for the Model X as well. Other vehicles you’ll find this feature include the new Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, GMC Hummer EV, Mercedes-Benz EQS, Mazda MX-30, and Cadillac Lyriq. These new models are being offered with this steering apparatus to give you something that feels futuristic.
How Can a Steering Yoke Make Sense?
Many new vehicles are being equipped with a steer-by-wire system which eliminates the need for a mechanical connection through the steering shaft. This allows the manufacturer to program turning with less steering angle, eliminating the need to rotate the wheel a full turn just to get the wheels where you want them. With this in mind, it might make sense to allow yokes to become the steering wheels of the future and put them in more vehicles. While that’s something we can discuss, you might want to wait on an approval of this feature.
Yoke-Style Steering Wheels are Not New
The yoke used for steering a vehicle is inspired by the controls used in an aircraft during flight. Taking this inspiration a little farther, Harley Earl added a yoke steering wheel in the turbine-powered 1953 Firebird I concept car. This car was presented at GM’s Motorama, and it appeared to be a car that just might take flight.
We also saw this type of steering apparatus in the hit show Night Rider, which featured KITT, a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am that used a yoke for the steering system. Another place this item was found was in the 1986 Oldsmobile Incas concept, which was a vehicle that used the Ital Design but never made it to production.
We Still Need Steering Wheels
Vehicles that don’t use steer-by-wire systems will not benefit from adding steering yokes to the mix. The purpose of a continuous wheel that’s predicable is the motion used in hand-over-hand turning, which is done in most vehicles. Rather than looking down to see that your hands are turning the wheel, you can keep your mind and eyes on where you’re going and the turning that’s required.
Several Questions are Unanswered
Even though a yoke-style wheel is great for F1 drivers that ride around on a closed circuit and have tight steering ratios, the question is how safe this item might be in an emergency. Part of the need for a round wheel is the usefulness and control when you need to perform evasive maneuvers during your drive. Without the top half of the wheel present, some challenges on the road, such as hitting a pothole, might cause a driver to lose their grip on the wheel and also lose control of the vehicle during a drive.
On the Other Hand…
How many times do you see drivers using one hand or even one finger to drive in a car? It happens a lot, but if steering yokes were used, it would encourage keeping both hands on the wheel much more than a steering wheel does. It would take some getting used to when driving, but if you’re forced to keep both hands on the wheel because the top half is not present, you might also pay closer attention to what you’re doing, driving. Of course, those who get used to using a yoke would eventually revert back to the bad habits we see on the road every day.
The NHTSA is On the Case
There are many more questions that have not been answered, but that is the job of the NHTSA. They are examining the Model S and Model X to see if these new steering yokes will be just as effective as traditional steering wheels. Don’t be surprised if there are restrictions placed on which vehicles can have this sporty and alternative steering apparatus in your vehicle. With many new models being offered with an alternative steering wheel, there might be a time when the yoke completely replaces the wheel to give you something different to grab while driving.
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