Why Do Buses Have Big Steering Wheel?

Buses are the most common mode of transport in India and throughout the world. They serve a common man and reach locations where other means of transport can’t. We have all travelled in buses at some point or the other in our lives and noticed one thing in particular – ‘All buses have large steering wheels.’ Today, we are going to find the reason behind it.

The key factors to the smooth operation of any vehicle are balance and stability, which brings us to the topic in discussion. Every commercial bus manufacturer provides its buses with big steering wheels. There’s a proper logic for this and the mechanism operating behind it.

However, in order to understand the reason, let us first learn what torque is? Torque is the twisting force that tends to cause rotation. Owing to the large size, the steering wheels of buses can’t be as responsive as that of smaller vehicles like cars. For buses to operate in a stable condition, it is imperative that the torque works at a different level in order to prevent the bus from swaying to either sides.

Imagine a condition wherein a slight twist of the steering wheel leads to an instant motion on the bus wheels, wouldn’t it be a terrible scenario for the bus driver and result in unfortunate accidents? The torque works in a way that the axle and wheels of the bus are synchronized and turn proportionately when the driver steers the vehicle. For example, a little (say 1 cm) turn of the steering wheel wouldn’t result in any movement of the bus’s wheels to maintain optimum driving conditions.

Buses have a large turning radius and turn at zero velocities during full-fledged turns to prevent tumbling down at high speeds. Big steering wheels allow for a stable operation of the bus by providing the optimal torque required for safe movement at the bends. It also gives the driver enhanced driving comfort and offers better control of the vehicle.

Furthermore, another reason why bus manufacturers design large steering wheels is because they don’t want every minute adjustment the driver makes to the steering column to change the turning radius of the bus considerably.

The most popular mode of a common man’s transport should also be the safest one. Buses stably operating are the buses safely operating under all conditions. Happy Bus Journey!