In today's Daily Telegraph motoring section there is a letter which begins -
'Am I the only elderly motorist to mourn the loss of the foot-operated dip switch? ......Bring back the foot button.'

'Honest John's reply is 'You are probably one of about 100'.

I have sent him the following:

"With reference to your dismissal of the mourning of the foot dip switch, there are about 1000 UK Sunbeam Alpine drivers and then at least as many Tiger, Rapier, Minx, Gazelle and Humber drivers who must all agree that the modern 'left-hand-does-everything' controls are rubbish compared to the RHD Alpine layout with the handbrake and indicators on the right stalk, overdrive on the left stalk and the foot dip-switch. Ideal for quick get-aways at the lights with left hand for the gear lever and right for the handbrake, and easy to signal while changing gear - such as on a roundabout. Hands stay on the wheel when using the dip-switch - or when engaging or disengaging overdrive.
With side-impact rules pushing seat position towards the centre, it's time to re-introduce the RH handbrake - and then maybe there would be room for a few CDs etc in the centre console!

Or did you just mean only 100 elderly people would agree?"

I've always thought if there was one backwards step with the design of the Imp it was that Rootes moved the handbrake to the middle.

But it could do with a foot-operated dip switch too!