ISO 12214:2018

Road vehicles - Direction-of-motion stereotypes for automotive hand controls

ISO 12214:2018 gives design recommendations and requirements for the direction-of-motion of hand controls found in passenger, multipurpose and commercial vehicles, and buses.

Véhicules routiers — Stéréotypes de sens d'action sur les commandes manuelles dans l'automobile

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 01-Mar-2018
• ICS: 43.020 - Road vehicles in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 22/SC 39 - Ergonomics
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 22/SC 39 - Ergonomics
• Current Stage: 9092 - International Standard to be revised
• Start Date: 25-Nov-2025
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 12214:2010 - Road vehicles - Direction-of-motion stereotypes for automotive hand controls
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2017

Overview - ISO 12214:2018 (direction-of-motion stereotypes)

ISO 12214:2018, "Road vehicles - Direction-of-motion stereotypes for automotive hand controls," provides human-factors design recommendations and requirements for the expected direction of motion for hand-operated controls in passenger, multipurpose and commercial vehicles, and buses. Prepared by ISO/TC 22/SC 39 (Ergonomics), this third edition updates guidance on how control orientation, mounting plane and control type influence driver expectations and use. The standard aims to reduce actuation errors, shorten operating time and lower driver workload by aligning controls with established direction-of-motion stereotypes.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Control mounting planes: Stereotypes are specified for three orthogonal planes - horizontal (X–Y), vertical‑transverse (Y–Z) and vertical‑longitudinal (X–Z) - plus some inclined planes.
• On/increase control directions: Typical expected motions are up, forward, right, pull towards, and rotate over top. (Commercial trucks may use a downward “on” motion.)
• Prohibited/limited configurations: Several configurations are not recommended (for example, certain rockers/toggles on sloping surfaces and some switch layouts for power windows).
• Specific function controls:
  • Power mirrors: Strong stereotypes when switches face the driver (mounting planes angled ≈30°–60° from the door plane); four‑way pads and joysticks are covered.
  • Power windows: Recommended 2×2 fore‑aft switch layouts (toggle/rocker/push–pull) on horizontal or slightly angled surfaces; 1×4 layouts and vertical plane 2×2 layouts are discouraged.
  • Window cranks: Orientation guidance and expected rotation directions for raising/lowering left and right side windows.
  • Stalk‑mounted controls: Directions for turn signals, wipers and headlamps (e.g., raising/lowering stalks for turn signals; rotate-over-top for wipers when shared with signal stalk).
  • Power door locks: No strong rocker stereotype - labeling and tactile coding are recommended.
• Human factors findings: Stereotype strength is independent of age, gender or handedness; the document is based on empirical research and ergonomics principles.

Applications - who uses ISO 12214:2018

• Automotive designers and UX/ergonomics engineers specifying hand control layouts
• Human factors practitioners conducting usability and safety assessments
• Vehicle manufacturers, suppliers of switches/controls and interior hardware
• Regulatory and compliance teams referencing ergonomic requirements for in-vehicle controls

Related standards and references

• Bibliography cites human-factors research and industry reports (e.g., SAE J1139 and multiple SAE/UMTRI studies) that informed the standard.
• No normative references are listed within ISO 12214:2018 itself.

Keywords: ISO 12214:2018, direction-of-motion stereotypes, automotive hand controls, human factors, ergonomics, power window controls, stalk-mounted controls, power mirror controls.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12214
Third edition
2018-02
Road vehicles — Direction-of-motion
stereotypes for automotive hand
controls
Véhicules routiers — Stéréotypes de sens d'action sur les commandes
manuelles dans l'automobile
Reference number
©
ISO 2018
© ISO 2018
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Design . 1
4.1 General . 1
4.2 On/increase controls . 2
4.3 Specific function controls . 2
4.3.1 General. 2
4.3.2 Power mirror controls . 2
4.3.3 Power window controls . 3
4.3.4 Window regulators (cranks) . 3
4.3.5 Stalk-mounted controls . 3
4.3.6 Power door locks . 3
Bibliography . 9
Foreword
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electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
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on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
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expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: www .iso .org/ iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 22, Road vehicles, Subcommittee SC 39,
Ergonomics.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 12214:2010), of which it constitutes a
minor revision. The changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— the first sentence of 4.3.5.2 has been deleted and the following added: “If the wiper and turn signal
are located on the same side of the steering wheel, the wiper shall only be turned on by rotating over
the top”;
— in 4.3.5.3, “or pushing” has been included, so that the text reads: “Pulling or pushing the left or right
stalk should be the motion for turning on the headlamp high beam.”
iv © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Drivers develop expectations regarding the operating motions of various types of controls as a result of
their accumulated experience with vehicle controls. To simplify the operation of controls for drivers, the
direction-of-motion to operate these controls needs to conform to these expectations, or stereotypes.
The strength of a stereotype varies with the control configuration (control type, location, orientation
and mounting plane). Studies have demonstrated that stereotype strength is not related to driver age,
gender, or left- or right-handedness. Failure to conform to direction-of-motion stereotypes can lead to
actuation errors, longer operating times and an increase in driver workload.
This document is based on past research and general human factor principles. Control labelling and
tactile or shape coding are not addressed in this document. However, appropriate labelling and coding
can improve the accuracy of control use.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12214:2018(E)
Road vehicles — Direction-of-motion stereotypes for
automotive hand controls
1 Scope
This document gives design recommendations and requirements for the direction-of-motion of hand
controls found in passenger, multipurpose and commercial vehicles, and buses.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
3.1
control configuration
particular combination of control type, location, orientation and mounting plane
3.2
direction-of-motion stereotype
direction of control motion expected by a majority of people to achieve a given effect for a specified
control configuration
3.3
stereotype strength
percentage of people who activate the control in a particular direction
3.4
on/increase control
control whose function is to turn something on/off or to increase/decrease some unspecified effect
3.5
specific function control
control used to activate some specific function or achieve a specific effect
EXAMPLE Control to lock or unlock doors, raise or lower windows, or turn on headlamps, headlamp high
beam or windshield wipers.
4 Design
4.1 General
This document gives the recommended direction-of-motion and control orientation for controls
mounted on each of three orthogonal planes:
— horizontal (X-Y) plane;
— vertical-transverse (Y-Z) plane;
— vertical-longitudinal (X-Z) plane.
Some of
...