Steer by wire replaces a vehicle’s traditional mechanical steering rack with an electronic control unit – aka sensors and an ECU that measure & translate driver input. Honestly, I’m not even much of a fan of throttle-by-wire. And now we’ve entered the era where even steering is getting the same treatment. I saw a video recently from some overexcited YouTuber demonstrating a “breakthrough” in steer-by-wire tech. He nudged the yoke (yes, a yoke…because apparently normal steering wheels are too boring now) about half a turn, and the car immediately dove into a full-lock turn. Flipped the yoke the other way, same thing. It was annoying to say the least. I mean ok, I get the appeal: A little bit of input gives you a lot of turning. Neat. Futuristic. But also concerning. Here’s why…
We’re removing the driver’s ultimate control over the machine…
Mechanical steering is a driver’s direct link to the wheels of their vehicle. And the automotive industry is getting dangerously close to a point of no return, where they remove the driver from the driving equation entirely. Steer by wire further conditions drivers to NOT understand how a car actually works. My bigger gripe though? Reliability…
Steer by wire systems are entirely reliant on sensors, actuators, and software…
All of which are prone to failure. Sure, mechanical steering can fail too. But usually, there are signs of wear & tear before outright failure. I’ve had throttle-by-wire systems fail on me firsthand already – twice. The electronic actuator on the throttle body just threw in the towel. No warning. No limp mode. Just – poof – no throttle & bricked. Foot to the floor and the car responded with absolutely nothing. And now we want to put that same fragile logic into the steering? We’ve become too obsessed with turning cars into smartphones.
What is steer by wire
Let’s talk about feel…
Modern carmakers seem hellbent on murdering the tactile, mechanical communication between man & machine. When you’re behind the wheel of a real driver’s car, you can FEEL the tires through the steering wheel. There is a direct, uncoded connection. Manual transmissions give you not just a sense of control, but actual real control over the vehicle. Every little vibration or twitch in the steering wheel, and every slight change in engine tone or road texture tells your brain something important. It’s a dialogue between you and the car. You instinctively feel adjustments that need to be made in adverse conditions. Your hands, your ears, your rear, your gut – they’re all working together like some sixth sense that lets you adjust, compensate, and drive the damn car.
Is steer by wire good
Now we’ve got rolling MacBooks…
Turn the steering wheel… sorry yoke… and it feels like you’re moving an Xbox joystick. There’s no feedback, no resistance, no physicality, and no soul. Just cold, numb, digital translation. I understand the age we’re in. But this relentless push for numbness & detachment is creating worse drivers… who do not speak the language of car. It’s not progress. Rather, it’s in fact dangerous to be so reliant on technology. But it’s not an accident. OEMs are doing this on purpose. Why? Because the average consumer today doesn’t want to drive – they want ‘mobility’. AKA: They want to be driven while they scroll & sip Starbucks. And ironically, this has become a double-edged sword that the OEMs themselves created.
OEMs spent the last 2 decades dumbing-down the driving experience…
They removed engagement, filtered feedback, and convinced people that more screens and more “assists” equals progress. And now that drivers expect these things, automakers are forced to keep leaning into the mess they made. Automakers have curated a customer who wants their car to babysit them. And simultaneously, they’ve failed their customers who are driving enthusiasts & fans. Carmakers have killed-off what driving is supposed to be. And it’s been traded for assisted lane changes & numb steering controls. Inputs that feel like you’re dragging your finger across a tablet screen. The only “feel” left is the haptic vibration when your car thinks you’re about to do something naughty.
And here’s what makes it worse…
We’re conditioning the new generations to never know what they’re missing. To them, numb is normal. Engagement is optional. And freedom? Nah, let the car do it. It’s not living, it’s existence. Today’s automotive industry has applianced itself. And given up almost everything that made it historically special. Modern driving (sorry, ‘mobility’) has become an experience that’s managed by code, throttled by regulation, and stripped of its character. And the manufacturers – the very ones who used to build the machines that stirred the soul – are complicit in this mess. They’ve lost the plot, they’ve burned the script. And now they’re telling us that forgettable, indistinguishable mobility is our future. Remember folks, every time you make a purchase (or don’t make one), you’re casting your vote for how you want the world to be. And if it doesn’t FEEL like driving, then it isn’t.
By David S. Windsor
