system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:why did older cars and trucks have the high beam switch on the floorboard.

Was there ever an advantage/reason for this?
gpt
The high beam and starter switches use large physical relays that used to be operated directly because they control lots of current and are too heavy to conveniently flip with your fingers.

The invention of solenoid switches made it possible to control high-current devices with much lighter stalk-mounted switches -- the large relays are still present but elsewhere.