Otherwise, during long stretches of straight roads, power steering is not necessary.
Still used on almost all late twentieth-century commercial automobiles, power steering systems have not changed substantially in their basic principles since they were first developed as hydraulic systems in the middle of the twentieth century. Recently power steering systems have improved dramatically. Nice (nd) notes that power steering does consume fuel and so automobile engineers have been striving to make the hydraulic systems more efficient. Electronic controls would "eliminate the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering," (Nice nd). Essentially, an electronic power steering system would feel more like a computer gaming wheel than a traditional car wheel (Nice nd). General Motor's Hy-Wire system is an emerging example of electronic "drive by wire" power steering systems (Nice nd).
Power steering has not changed society for better or for worse. Some positive effects of power steering include improved ergonomics and a smoother, safer driving experience. On the other hand, power steering has made driving too commonplace. An activity most Americans take...
The impact on public health, public safety, and the environment has been detrimental but power steering itself is at most only indirectly to blame. Otherwise, the invention of power steering has beefed up the automobile industry and made driving more accessible to ordinary consumers.
References
Bellis, M. (nd). Automobile history. About.com. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/Car_History.htm
Car Talk." (2005). Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://cars.cartalk.com/content/advice/powersteering.html
Electronic Power Steering." Indiacar.com. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://www.indiacar.com/infobank/epc.htm
Nice, K. (nd). How car steering works. How Stuff Works. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://auto.howstuffworks.com/steering4.htm
Steering System." Columbia Encyclopedia. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://cars.cartalk.com/content/advice/powersteering.html
Watson, B. (2006). History of power steering. Retrieved Sept 24, 2008 at http://archivesearch.imperialclub.com/archives/msg111055.html
