Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - ifithelps
Been out and about a bit today and seen some shocking attempts at steering wheel control.

Many defy the 'hands of the clock' method of description.

One driver had the fingers of both hands interwined and was hugging the top of the wheel.

No way has he proper control, and it's not a position I could take up even if I wanted to, unless I lost a bit of weight. :)

The other one you see quite a bit is one arm straight out, with the underside of the wrist resting on the top of the wheel.

Both of these positions might be fine for a straight line, but neither gives the driver much hope of reacting swiftly to an unexpected need to change direction.

Needless to say, I'm perfect with my hands at 'ten to two' - most of time.

Where on the wheel do you usually put your hands?

And can there be any excuse for the unconventional positions I've described?

Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - pda
Ones usually on me bacon sarnie and the other manages to cling on to the steering wheel knob ( I use a knob!) with my little finger while keeping a fag in the rest of that hand.......................doesn't everyone!

Pat
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Old Navy
Usually somewhere near the wheel unless I am on the phone while drinking a can of beer.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - piston power
Right elbow on door card hand on wheel with 2x fingers and thumb,

Left hand on steering wheel at about twenty to or quarter to unless on g knob.

The traditional hands of clock method is far to regimental and arms start to ache.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - DP
Right elbow on door card hand on wheel with 2x fingers and thumb
Left hand on steering wheel at about twenty to or quarter to unless on g
knob.


Exactly the same here.

This applies all the time, except when driving "spiritedly" where I hold the wheel at a quarter to three. I do both subconsciously.

Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Andrew-T
My first priority is leg-pedal-seat position comfort. When that is set, I usually find my hands at about 20 to 4. I have never understood the strictures about 10 to 2 being best - perhaps it was handed down from driving buses with near-horizontal steering wheels about 2'6" across?
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - CraigP
6 o clock position (other hand on gear stick). Sitting very far back, and low down.

Unless im reaching over, raiding the back seat for something, i use *both knees* -- for added security -- in that situation. Can't stand seeing someone using only one knee.

haha :-P joking!

For spirited driving 9 to 3 with a pretty upright seat back and closer in to the wheel than normal. It's the only position i've found where i can say i can feel what the car is doing.

Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Lud
There was an old man from Madras
Who had no hand for steering (alas!)
What with picking his nose,
Pedicuring his toes
And scratching the old Khyber Pass...
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Mapmaker
One hand on the knee of the bird next to you.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - pda
I like your style MM:)

Pat
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Group B
"Where on the steering wheel should your hands be?"

Where you find them most comfortable, while maintaining control.

In normal driving use right hand only at 2 o'clock, with arm resting on door, and left hand comes into play only when necessary, eg. turning more than about a quarter turn of lock. Of course I use two hands if giving it a good thrash down a twisty road.
With power steering there is no reason to use both hands; if you can rest your right arm you do not need your left hand on the wheel for balance.

A few years ago I was considering doing the IAM test so re-taught myself how to steer by shuffling the wheel (or "milking the cow" as Scandinavian rally drivers scornfully call it). I felt totally alien at first, I got the hang of it after a while but boy is it cumbersome. Why are police drivers still forced to steer like that; racing drivers dont?


Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - mike hannon
>There was an old man from Madras
Who had no hand for steering (alas!)
What with picking his nose,
Pedicuring his toes
And scratching the old Khyber Pass... <

LOL
He's not the same old man from Madras who had problems with his metallic body parts in windy weather is he?
If he isn't we'll have to continue this conversation by email...
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - JH
I think my hands are normally somewhere between quarter to 3 and ten to two, with the thumbs on the outside. But I'm having to think about this, it's unconcious.

The "top of the hour" with both hands is quite common, sad to say, and must give little control. It's often used by short ladies sittting VERY close to the wheel with elbows flying. But also by, usually larger sized, men.

JH
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - smokie
Ten to two is not an issue once you are used to it. Took me ages to get used to it when I was "studying"! for IAM, but now it's my default way. I didn't even realise I was still doing it until someone commented on it a few weeks back. And without doubt it gives you best control, as does "milking the cow", even with power steering.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Sofa Spud
I generally keep between the ten-to-two and quarter-to-three position.

I do cross my hands on the wheel when turning sharply. I don't count this as a bad habit as, after 35 years of safe motoring, it has never caused me problems. If, however, I was to drive an older vehicle with heavy steering, especially a lorry or bus with near-horizontal steering wheel, I would shuffle the wheel instead of crossing hands.

For many years, Bristol cars had a 2-spoke steering wheel with the spokes fitted with grips so they could be held like handlebars.

static.howstuffworks.com/gif/bristol-sports-cars-2...g

Edited by Sofa Spud on 15/02/2010 at 20:07

Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - ohsoslow
Some steering wheels have 'lumps' on the inside at about 10 to 2, I assume to make holding the wheel more comfortable at that position.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - bathtub tom
I'm a right elbow on door rest hand at 2-o-clock, left hand at six.

What does appal me is the underhand at twelve. Where did that come from, power steering?
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Lud
I have seen a photograph of one of my oldest friends, a person with a distinguished motoring pedigree on both sides of his family, aged 10 or 12, crouching over the wheel of a pedal car somewhat too small for him, using the ten-to-two hand position, and also wearing a leather flying helmet, pilot's goggles and an insane Toad-like grin.

As an adult driver he has increasingly with age made a point of extreme rectitude, although certainly not excluding a heavy right foot when appropriate. Hardly ever puts a foot wrong on the road although the truth is no one's perfect, no one's 100%. Luck accompanies all of us in one form or another. But if you know my friend you can still see the ghost of the goggles and the ghost of the mad grin, thank goodness.

As for myself, I quite like slouching in the corner of the car with the wheel held lightly between the finger and thumb of one languid hand. I understand that in the days of tiller steering you could lounge back and steer with your leg at what then passed for high speeds. Sounds cool.

Edited by Lud on 15/02/2010 at 20:28

Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Galaxy
Actually in contact with the steering wheel unless I'm blowing my nose ):

Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - gordonbennet
They should be at 10 to 2ish apparently...in practice as Pat, one hand usually right is plenty the other for munching whatever tasty treat takes ones fancy.

When in car (proper auto), left hand is free to do as MM does..;)
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Cliff Pope
Right hand at 12 or 1, with elbow resting on the wheel at about 5.
Left hand loosely at about 7, with arm lying in lap (mine).

When cornering, right hand wrist at what was 12, wound round as required.

When straightening up I am a good boy and have hands ready at 10 to 2, loosely, to catch the wheel as it self-returns to straight.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}
On my Skoda and Corsa loan car thumbs over the spokes and about 10 to three.
Trouble is the Corsa radio controls are there and volume and station change with gay abandon when maneuvering...
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - ForumNeedsModerating
I like to have one hand at the top (12 o'clock), with a cigarette in the other, or fiddling with the ICE (bass controls usually) . I try to wear a tight t-shirt mostly, showing off my tricep to best advantage (..you never know, it might impress a lady or chavvy Saxo driver!)

;)
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Andy P
Just above q-t-three (say about twelve minutes to three) - this way I can reach the headlamp flash, the stereo controls on the wheel and the paddles for the gearbox.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - OG
On my Skoda and Corsa loan car thumbs over the spokes and about 10 to
three.
Trouble is the Corsa radio controls are there and volume and station change with gay
abandon when maneuvering...



I thought it was only me who did that. Stupid ****** paddles.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - mike hannon
Somewhere on the rim.
With the Jaguar I can choose the sensation of polished wood, to remind me of the good old days, or soft leather if I want to feel more up to date.
It looks a bit weird, but how cool is that?
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - L'escargot
Having once seen a driver with the steering column stuck in his chest I sit as far from the wheel as possible, so the natural position for my hands on the wheel is 20 past 8.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - M.M
10 to 2 (or a couple of minutes lower) with both hands for me at all times even since my nutty teenager period. It's the way to maximise control in an unexpected situation. Power steering or not makes no difference... it's not all about strength but body balance and making the best control input into the car allowing the brain its best connection to the car's actual movement.

I do usually shuffle in relaxed town situations but happy to cross hands in extreme situations.

At 10 to 2 your arms are high enough off the body to allow about 180deg of steering movement (accepting crossed arms) without either hand leaving the wheel.

At the 20 to 8 position some seem to favour you can only move the wheel about 45deg before an elbow digs into your body and/or arm contacts your leg.

I see no difference between relaxed driving and getting a move on.... it's worth having max control at all times because you never know.... blowout.... oncoming car wandering into your lane... kid running out etc.

If 10 to 2 makes your arms ache then something is wrong about the way the wheel/seat position... usually sitting too far back with too much recline.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - L'escargot
At the 20 to (past?) 8 position some seem to favour you can only move the
wheel about 45deg before an elbow digs into your body and/or arm contacts your leg.


It works OK for me. Because I sit as far as I can from the wheel my arms are straight enough for my elbows not to contact any other part of my body.
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - Dave_TD

This new forum's good - in the "Other Forum Posts" section on the right hand side this popped up from 2006:

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=44615

;-)
Where on the steering wheel should your hands be? - old crocks
Yes. That section seems to be a random confusion generator at the moment.
I just saw one about a competition to win James May's Bentley......only it was a three year old thread.

I'm sure the overworked, underpaid and thoroughly fed up mods have it on the to-do list.