Thinking outside of the box is oftentimes encouraged. However, it seems that the Tesla Model 3, its unconventional controls have caused it to be banned by driving schools in Norway – specifically its turn indicator control.
The Tesla Model 3 has already been launched in Malaysia, and if you’ve seen its pictures, you would know that its turn indicator control is located on the steering wheel itself. Yes, the Tesla Model 3 doesn’t have a conventional indicator stalk and this has been the cause of its ban from driving schools in Norway. The more conventional Tesla Model Y, however, has not been faced with the same issue.
As reported by Electrek, the problem with the Model 3’s turn indicator control is that it becomes dangerous when exiting a roundabout. This was a matter of concern for Jåhn Hansen Øyen, who runs the Harstad Traffic School in Norway.
He said, “I tested the Model 3, and noticed that I lost both focus and direction in roundabouts. It’s not directly life-threatening, but you run the risk of both driving on curbs and other cars if there are two lanes.”
With the position of the indicator button moving together with the steering wheel, students may fail to use the indicators and risk colliding with other vehicles. We guess it’s similar to having paddle shifters that move with the steering wheel, albeit with bigger consequences. Jåhn Hansen Øyen posted his findings in a group of driving schools and many other driving schools agreed with him. Thus they decided to ban the Tesla Model 3.
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Tesla isn’t the first company to make unconventional controls for their cars as Citroen had previously introduced highly unconventional control designs in cars like the DS23. Tesla has perhaps gone a little too far with its new indicator control design.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Some readers have commented that the turn indicator design for the Model 3 should be banned altogether.
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