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Driver Education Curriculum Project
Figure 6.1: Driver Controls
Page 1 of 4
Item
Typical Location
Purpose
Comments
1
steering column
and steering
wheel
directly in front of driver
seat
turning the steering wheel
transmits forces which turn the
wheels to determine direction of
travel
2
steering wheel
tilt
lever on side of steering
column
allows steering wheel to tilt so as
to better accommodate physical
attributes of driver
Some Vehicles
3
steering wheel
extension
on side of steering
column
allows steering wheel to extend or
contract so as to better
accommodate physical attributes
of driver
Some Vehicles
4
accelerator
floor to right of brake
pedal
controls the amount of gas being
fed into engine and thereby the
speed of the vehicle
5
clutch pedal
floor to left of brake
pedal
when depressed, disengages the
clutch which eliminates
transmission of power from
engine to transmission; when
released smoothly applies power
through to transmission
must be used to change
gears in manual
transmissions; not found
on automatic
transmissions; some
vehicles will not start
unless the clutch pedal is
depressed while turning
the ignition switch
*6
service brake
pedal
on floor to left of
accelerator
when depressed applies brakes to
slow vehicle
*7
parking brake
pedal operated by left
foot; lever under
dashboard; or lever to
right on floor.
applies brakes to keep car from
moving when parked or to slow
car if service brakes fail.
*8
headlight on-off
switch
normally on left side of
dashboard
turns head lights on and off
also controls parking lights
and actuates panel and
certain other lights
*9
high beam
switch
actuated by
forward/backward
movement of turn signal
lever or will be a floor
switch actuated by left
foot
switches headlights from high
beams to normal/low beams
*10
panel light
dimming
part of headlight on-off
switch or separate
switch on dash
allows adjustment of console
lights to improve night vision or
improve visibility .
11
interior lights
part of headlight on-off
switch and/or separate
switch(s) which may be
part of light fixtures
provide light at night for safely
entering and exiting vehicle,
reading maps, etc.
some lights are controlled
automatically by
opening/closing door Figure 6.1: Driver Controls
Page 2 of 4
Item
Typical Location
Purpose
Comments
12
automatic
headlight control
incorporated into
headlight switch or
separate switches
may automatically turn on head
lights when low ambient light is
detected or keep headlights on
when car is running, turn off
headlights when vehicle is
parked, and/or dimming
headlights to accommodate
oncoming vehicle
can be overridden on
some models
13
rear view mirror
adjustment
part of rear view mirror
assembly
adjusts reflected field of vision to
right or left and up and down to
accommodate body size of driver;
also adjusts angle of lens to
reduce glare at night
glare adjustment
independent of field of
vision adjustment
14
side view mirror
adjustment
part of side view mirror
assembly itself or a set
of switches on side
panel to left of driver
adjusts field of vision reflected by
mirrors on left or right sides of
vehicle to accommodate body
size of driver.
if switch mode is provided,
one switch selects which
mirror is to be adjusted
while adjoining switches
adjust field of vision.
15
seat position
adjustment
under seat, and to side
of seat; if motor
assisted, switches will
normally be on side
panel
controls tilt, height, forward
position and lumbar support to
accommodate body size and
comfort of driver
some functions may be
manual and some
motorized
*16
turn indicator
lights
a lever protruding from
the left side of the
steering column
actuates left- and right-hand turn
signal lights
lever may incorporate
other controls including
windshield wipers and
windshield washer
*17 windshield wiper
and washer
frequently incorporated
into turn indicator lever
but may be a switch on
dashboard
turns on and off windshield
wipers, adjusts their speed,
cleans windshield by spraying it
with water or cleaning solution
if rear window wipers
provided, they are
controlled by separate
switch
18
gear shift and
"park"
a lever protruding from
the right side of steering
column or a lever on the
floor to right of driver
changes gears to maintain proper
speed; immobilize power train
when parked
gear positions marked on
knob of lever for manual
transmissions; displayed
on dashboard or adjoining
floor lever for automatic
transmissions
19
overdrive
engage
a button on the end of
gear shift control lever
or a special gear
position
shifts transmission between
normal high gear and a still
higher gear to improve gas
mileage
*20
heating,
ventilating and
cooling (HVAC)
one or more switches
and levers on dashboard
to right of driver;
direction of air flow
controlled manually at
registers and/or by
selection of mode
controls temperature of inside of
vehicle, air flow produced by fan,
and amount of outside air
entering vehicle
separate controls adjust
temperature, air flow, and
registers by mode (air
conditioning, max AC,
floor only, etc.);
temperature controlled by
adjustable thermostat on
some vehicles Figure 6.1: Driver Controls
Page 3 of 4
Item
Typical Location
Purpose
Comments
*21
defroster
part of HVAC controls
or separate switches on
dash
flushes interior of windshield with
warm air to remove frost or
condensation
rear window defrosting is
normally accomplished by
heating wires in glass and
normally has separate
switch
22
vent controls
part of HVAC controls;
part of register assembly
controls amount of air passing
through registers; allows entry of
fresh air
23
door locks
knob on each door at
base of window or
switches which are
frequently on side panel
lock/unlock doors
if automatic door locks are
provided, driver's controls
normally operate all doors;
doors may lock
automatically when
vehicle moves
24
side windows
crank handle on side
panels or switches which
are frequently on side
panel
open/close windows
driver's side switch may
open window entirely if
depressed; some systems
allow driver's controls to
override those of
passengers
25
ignition/starter
switch
on side of steering
column or on
dashboard.
multifunction switch which
energizes electrical circuits and
turns on starter motor; key
removal may be controlled by
special release and require gear
shift be in PARK; may lock
steering wheel.
modes (proceeding in
clockwise direction from
extreme counterclockwise
position) may include (1)
accessory circuits on, (2)
engine and accessory
circuits off, steering wheel
locked, and key can be
removed, (3) engine off,
accessory circuits on,
steering wheel unlocked,
(4) engine on, all
accessory circuits on,
panel indicators
illuminated, and (5) crank
engine.
26
key removal
release
button or slider on side
of steering column
prevents driver from inadvertently
removing key with engine running
some vehicles must also
be in PARK to remove
key
*27
horn
hub of steering wheel
actuates horn
exact location on steering
wheel may be marked with
icon
*28
hazard warning
flasher
button or knob on
steering column
actuates right- and left-hand turn
indicator lights simultaneously as
warning to approaching vehicles
29
hood release
lever under dash on left
side
releases hood latch to allow hood
to be fully opened from outside
hood release does not
disengage safety latch Figure 6.1: Driver Controls
Page 4 of 4
Item
Typical Location
Purpose
Comments
30
gas cap
compartment
cover release
button normally on lower
left side of driver
allows cover to pop open
permitting access to gas cap and
filler pipe.
31
trunk release button normally on lower
left side of driver
allows trunk door to pop open
permitting access to trunk
32
fuse box
various locations but
frequently under dash or
on firewall in engine
compartment
allows fuses to be changed
33
glove box
opener
button or knob on glove
box door
allows glove box to be opened
and locked
34
cruise control
frequently on hub of
steering wheel
used to automatically control
accelerator.
deactivated by applying
brakes or OFF switch;
separate switches for ON,
OFF and modes which
include RESUME, SET
ACCELERATOR, and
COAST.
35
spare tire
mounting
knob or clamp affixed to
spare tire or lowering
mechanism
secures spare tire
tools to change tire
normally carried in trunk or
elsewhere in interior of
car; special tool required
to lower and remove spare
tire if mounted under
vehicle as is the case with
pick-up trucks
36
air bag override normally a key operated
switch on dashboard.
prohibits passenger side air bag
deployment when its deployment
could be dangerous to occupant
of seat such as is case with small
children.
37
security system
mode switch
a small switch, often
hidden or out of view
controls mode of security system
(system armed, valet mode, etc.)
Controls not Directly Available to Driver
38
back-up lights
back up lights are
controlled by switch that
senses if car is in
reverse
turns back-up lights on and off
39
side turn lights
automatic with turn
indicator
illuminate a small area to the left
or righ