John -
Our van's previous owner found plenty of real estate at the lower left of the steering column.
The switches run a bank of driving / fog lights, the compressor (green), 4 air pressure switches controlling a 4 wheel air bag suspension system (now disconnected and unused). There's also, I'm embarrassed to say, a couple of switches who's function I have yet to discover.
If I was starting from scratch, I would not put the light switches where they are. It's possible to bump them on with my knee getting out and walk away, possibly for hours, not knowing that the lights are on.