Power steering wheel reduces the effort that drivers require to move the large wheels. It is the power-assisted feature in buses to move the steering in different directions.
Do Buses Have Power Steering? Buses have power steering wheels because they are easy to steer, have less wheel resistance, absorb shocks, provide better control, comfortable for drivers, ensure safety, give better fuel efficiency, and make maneuverability and parking easy.
The power steering works on the hydraulic or electric system for the movement of wheels. Steering wheels are extremely heavy without the power assist feature in them.
Why do buses have power steering?
Power steering systems use hydraulic and electric power to reduce wear and tear on the system. It extends the life of your vehicle by minimizing the damages during driving. Moreover, its components also require less maintenance because of the power-assisted feature.
Easy to steer
Power steering wheels are easy to operate, and moving them with physical effort becomes difficult because of the vehicle’s heavy weight and tires.
You can easily maneuver the buses in narrow and crowded spaces. In addition, drivers do not have to put much effort into moving them. It reduces the forces that drivers need to steer larger vehicles.
Moreover, the power-assisted feature is also beneficial for drivers that do not have enough strength and have any mobility issues.
You can easily turn it while moving at low speed and crossing sharp turning points. It also increases the accessibility of the drivers because of easy driving.
Less wheel resistance
Manual steering is challenging because moving the wheels takes a lot of time. The power steering system allows you quickly move the wheels at different angles without wheel resistance. It makes the turning quicker by decreasing the resistance from the wheels that directly reach towards them.
The electric and hydraulic system mounted in the steering column provides enough force to move the tires without any resistance.
Less resistance means it is also helpful to increase several components’ longevity by reducing their impact. Its components last longer when they do not have to exert excessive force to move the wheels in different directions.
Absorb shocks
They have power steering systems because of their reliability and comfortable journey. The manual system does not absorb the impact from the road and transfers the wheel resistance directly to the steering, which compromises stability and control.
Power-assisted systems effectively absorb the shocks from the road and provide stable rides to their passengers. A stable drive on larger vehicles is necessary because bumps from the road can increase the risk of wear and tear of internal components.
It absorbs the shocks when you are moving on uneven terrains. It makes your journey comfortable when you are moving on bumpy roads. These are beneficial for school and traveling buses going to different areas and moving on several types of uneven roads.
Better control
It provides better control and stability when moving in city areas and highways. Drivers can easily steer larger buses because of hydraulic and electric systems.
One of my friends is a bus driver, and he told me that it is challenging to steer larger vehicles as compared to smaller cars and SUVs.
He also told me that manual steering is quite difficult because you have to exert excessive force to move the vehicle. However, the hydraulic system enhances the overall stability overall driving dynamics.
Moreover, handling and control improve because of better responsiveness and steering inputs.
Comfortble for drivers
It is a comfortable and convenient feature for the drivers. It reduces bus drivers’ fatigue when they go on long trips.
A manual steering system makes the drivers hectic because they have to exert force to steer the vehicles. The power-assisted feature is less hectic and makes their driving experience comfortable.
They can drive large vehicles smoothly because of better steering inputs and stability. It is helpful to reduce the fatigue and muscle pain that drivers usually face during long trips and driving for extended periods.
It provides a more comfortable driving experience than manual ones because of the reduced physical effort to steer.
Ensure safety
Buses are larger in size, and sometimes it becomes difficult to steer them quickly in emergencies which can increase the risk of accidents and collisions.
It is helpful to enhance the safety of the passenger and reduce the risk of collisions and direct impact on exterior frames.
Increased steering response allows the drivers to quickly maneuver in different directions during emergencies. Drivers respond quickly to avoid obstacles, road hurdles, and other smaller cars on the roads, which lead to serious accidents.
It reduces the physical effort of the drivers and enhances their focus on the road, which reduces the likelihood of collisions.
Better fuel efficiency
The power steering wheel is better than the hydraulic one because it provides better fuel economy. The electric system and motor installed in the steering column are lighter, taking less power from the engine.
However, the hydraulic pump requires more power from the engine to operate the hydraulic pump. Electric motor type power assisted feature is more energy-efficient, and they only draw power from the engine and when you are moving the steering.
It provides better fuel efficiency and also decreases environmental impacts. Moreover, electric motors do not require high maintenance like a hydraulic system requiring fluid replacement.
Easy parking
It allows better maneuverability in different areas. You can easily steer your vehicle in crowded and narrow parking areas.
Moreover, it provides better control and stability while moving on sharp and tight turning points. It allows the drivers to navigate easily in different areas.
Large buses require more effort for parking because of their greater size and turning radius. It reduces the physical effort, and you can easily park them in different parking lots.
These are beneficial when parking at a lower speed in parallel parking lots. Yesterday, I was waiting at the bus stand, and I saw drivers how effectively they parked buses in designated areas by moving the wheels in different directions.
When did buses get power steering?
Old-fashioned buses had manual steering wheels because the power system was only present in small cars and SUVs because of their smaller size.
However, Routemaster was the first bus introduced in 1954 with a power steering wheel, automatic gearbox, and independent front suspension components.
These vehicles have more efficient systems than manual ones. These were double-decker buses, and their convenient features made the drivers happy.
These came with the latest features to surprise the drivers because they were not expecting the lightest chassis frame and easy driving.
How does steering work on a bus?
Power steering systems differ from manual ones because they are equipped with hydraulic and electric systems to move the vehicles.
These systems are designed to decrease the effort of bus drivers with long duty hours. A hydraulic system is present in the steering column, and the engine provides the power to the hydraulic pump.
The generated hydraulic pressure, in return, assists the movement of wheels with minimal physical effort. The electric power steering system contains a motor equipped with a small sensor.
These sensors analyze the angle, and the motor provides enough torque to the mechanism for the movement of the wheels.
Why is the steering wheel on a bus so big?
The steering wheel of buses is larger because of their heavy weight, which requires more torque for their movement. Moreover, these help move the larger wheels effectively.
Drivers apply more force on them to make maneuverability easy and gain better control and stability. It also benefits the driver’s comfort because it provides more surface area so they can grip their hands properly.
It also provides a better view of the instrumental panels and enhances safety during driving because of better grip and control.
Related Articles:
