Steering hand positioning - Page 2

Darkr · 02-08-2008, 09:57 PM

I drive like the asian dude, but hold the bottom of the steering wheel if I'm just cruising.

If I actually have to steer or something it's both hands, or just basic manoeuvres probably just right hand on steering wheel.

I need to stop doing that, and I'm getting out of the habit, plainly becasue I acknowledge if I suddenly have to make a rapid manoeuvre it's not going to happen as swiftly as it should.

I'm surprised so many actually have two on the wheel!

Jesk · 02-08-2008, 10:13 PM

well i know i regularly do the last with no hands on the wheel food in the right and left hand on the gearstick, but when not eating usually one handed about 2-3 often with elbow on the sill, and the proper 10 and 2 for spirited driving

OJ_Pursuit · 02-08-2008, 10:34 PM

All those people that voted 10 and 2 for spirited driving would get an instant fail, if you were to swerve to miss something, or try to correct some oversteer with opposite lock, your arms would cross each other ... then game over.
9 and 3, with your arms slightly bent is the most effective way of maintaining control of the wheel, because you have a greater range of steering before you have to move your hands.
Just watch a professional race car driver to see why.
The 10 and 2 hand position used to be a law back in the day, because that way the cops could make sure you had both hands on the wheel.

**Peuty** · 03-08-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OJ_Pursuit

All those people that voted 10 and 2 for spirited driving would get an instant fail, if you were to swerve to miss something, or try to correct some oversteer with opposite lock, your arms would cross each other ... then game over.
9 and 3, with your arms slightly bent is the most effective way of maintaining control of the wheel, because you have a greater range of steering before you have to move your hands.
Just watch a professional race car driver to see why.
The 10 and 2 hand position used to be a law back in the day, because that way the cops could make sure you had both hands on the wheel.

Yeah, but driving on the roads is different to a professional racing environment. I just came back from about 400 kays of very spirited mountain driving and not once did my arms cross over. Why? Because I used the push/pull technique, which gives FAAAAR better control than keeping your hands locked at 9 & 3.

BIGJB · 04-08-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Yeah, but driving on the roads is different to a professional racing environment. I just came back from about 400 kays of very spirited mountain driving and not once did my arms cross over. Why? Because I used the push/pull technique, which gives FAAAAR better control than keeping your hands locked at 9 & 3.

Very spirited..... couldn't have said it better myself. lol
how I hold the wheel really depends where or more importantly how I
am driving the car at that particular point in time.
I usually only use my right hand if I'm cruising with my elbow resting on the arm
rest.

freaky · 04-08-2008, 11:13 AM

ever since i did the fpv drive day. i drive both hands on the wheel. 10 and 2.

even if cruising, if you need to instantly react or swerve, 1 hand isn't going to cut it.

I learnt this well and good on the drive day, and would never go back to driving with only 1 hand again.

superpursuit83 · 05-08-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freaky

ever since i did the fpv drive day. i drive both hands on the wheel. 10 and 2.

even if cruising, if you need to instantly react or swerve, 1 hand isn't going to cut it.

I learnt this well and good on the drive day, and would never go back to driving with only 1 hand again.

Who taught you that on the FPV day? Do you also have ya mirrors maxed out and the window fully down or fully up?

The 10 and 2 position was purely for the cops to see if you had both hands on the wheel.
My FPV wheel has nice grip areas at 9 and 3. Best control comes from 9 and 3. On the road and on the track. And that is also using the push pull when needed. (Cross your arms in an accident and you will probably end up with a nice watch imprint on your forehead from the air bag going off.

On the track I drive 9 and 3 and one hand always has the wheel. On the road its whatever is comfy, notebook on lap, knees on wheel etc etc ...

OJ_Pursuit · 04-08-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Yeah, but driving on the roads is different to a professional racing environment. I just came back from about 400 kays of very spirited mountain driving and not once did my arms cross over. Why? Because I used the push/pull technique, which gives FAAAAR better control than keeping your hands locked at 9 & 3.

Wow, so you are quick enough to push pull to avoid an accident????
I think you are kidding yourself mate.
What I am trying to say is 10 and 2 doesn't give you as much available wheel lock, as 9 and 3 does, before your arms cross.

And one other thing, its proven that if you have our hands at 9 and 3 in an airbag equipped vehicle, you significantly reduce the chances of burns or injuries to your arms, simply because they are out of the way of the bag when it goes off.
Also arms slightly bent reduces the chances of breaking your arms in an accident also.

Those who drive with one arm out the window should think about how much they value their limbs too.

Thanks.

**Peuty** · 04-08-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OJ_Pursuit

Wow, so you are quick enough to push pull to avoid an accident????
I think you are kidding yourself mate.

Who is kidding who? I'll drive the way I like, whilst giving MY OPINION about what I think, because, afterall, that what the original poster did ask for.

By the way, yes I do think I could push pull in enough time to avoid an accident, but of course, there is no way that I could do that though, right?

:

OJ_Pursuit · 04-08-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Who is kidding who? I'll drive the way I like, whilst giving MY OPINION about what I think, because, afterall, that what the original poster did ask for.

By the way, yes I do think I could push pull in enough time to avoid an accident, but of course, there is no way that I could do that though, right?

:

Bollocks to that, you say its different for a race driver... but why do you think they use 9 and 3 ???? because its SAFER and you have MORE CONTROL over the car... period.

:

**CAT600** · 02-08-2008, 10:41 PM

Left hand at 7 o'clock, Right arm wrapped AROUND the 'B" pillar..............
.
.
.
Sorry, that was the VL driver that I passed earlier today.

Me? Thumbs on the thumbgrips of the MOMO = 3 and 9.

Daniel

Falc'man · 02-08-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAT600

Left hand at 7 o'clock, Right arm wrapped AROUND the 'B" pillar..............
.
.
.
Sorry, that was the VL driver that I passed earlier today.

Me? Thumbs on the thumbgrips of the MOMO = 3 and 9.

Daniel

TadKa · 03-08-2008, 09:29 AM

has anyone else worn a spot on the doortrim from their elbow?

Jeeepers · 03-08-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TadKa

has anyone else worn a spot on the doortrim from their elbow?

+ one.

Creampuff · 03-08-2008, 09:50 AM

you forgot to mention the ones that drive with their hands over the front of the wheel and steer with wrists( the poofter drivers).
Also, the right arm hanging down the outside of the door(pure ).

Creampuff · 03-08-2008, 09:51 AM

after pure was a naughty word...sorry

Feathers · 03-08-2008, 09:53 AM

I have the FPV wheel, so my hands are in the moulded bits at 9 and 3.
Or right hand on 3 and left wrist leaning on the shifter if I'm cruising.

GS608 · 03-08-2008, 09:53 AM

depends, sometimes 9 and 3 with two hands sometimes one hand at around 5, other times a hand at around 2 with my elbow on the doortrim.

clontarf_x · 03-08-2008, 10:27 AM

+1 for wearing door trim.

RHS 3 O'clock and gearshift for highway cruising, 3&9 on the Momo grips for cornering/at speeds.

Ives · 03-08-2008, 10:33 AM

What if the steering wheel is like this :-

vanman_75 · 03-08-2008, 01:06 PM

dont think i have driven two handed in 20 years ,since the old fairlane, power steering fixed that.
eccept on me bike , in traffic hand at 3 hand on stick ,never buy auto so thats how it is and cruising /highway miles is 1 finger at 6

BlackLS · 03-08-2008, 01:39 PM

Cruising: Right - Index and thumb around the 3 o'clock spoke. Left - about 6 o'clock on the inside of the wheel.

Driving: 9 and 3, or right hand on 1oclock and left at 3 if shifting up and down on bumpy and bendy roads. If my right hand was at 3, the bumps and dips in the road would effect my steering when shifting.

Parking: Habitual right hand palmer.

WindsorXR · 03-08-2008, 08:03 PM

I've got a manual so I drive with one near the gearstick and the other is at about 2-3 o'clock. then I have my arm resting on the top of the trim

Mongoose · 03-08-2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSSXR8

I've got a manual so I drive with one near the gearstick and the other is at about 2-3 o'clock. then I have my arm resting on the top of the trim

yep, same here. Except for cornering or car parks then it becomes 9 and 3 and some serious palming (especially in the buick...)

LOWBA6 · 03-08-2008, 08:54 PM

In the fairmont(manual) one on the gearstick the other at 2 or 3 with elbow on the trim. I hate how it wears away but its comfortable. In the ba at 2 or 12 depends how i feel.

ayeyew · 03-08-2008, 10:02 PM

Left hand at 9 or 10 o'clock here.. i think.

I have never really paid attention ,lol

Creampuff · 03-08-2008, 10:51 PM

Cruisin' - left hand at 12 and right at 3. Serious - 10 and 2

TZENU · 04-08-2008, 02:50 PM

Right hand at 12, left elbow on centre console and head slightly tilted to the left so i can just see the VL turbo ahead of me

Dezza · 04-08-2008, 02:58 PM

Mine varies between 1 hand at 3.00 and the other on the center console, or at both 3 and 9. The previous owners left a bit of an arm groove in the console lid that thankfully isn't noticeable, but it's at the perfect spot. Amazing they did that because it was auto back then.

azaxr8 · 04-08-2008, 03:32 PM

lol,stop being so negative ojpursuit. I've done 3 defense driving courses as im required to for my work. 10-2 push and pull is the most effective method of controlling a car during a time of need. but i guess proffesionals are wrong and your right. If you have straight arms driving 10-2 then you obviously need to move your seat forward.

But your right and we are all wrong.

i used to drive at 12 i guess all young blokes do it when they first get there licence. i find it very comfortable and as much as some people say its the worst when coming to incidents. due to oversteering at important times. I have been caught a few times up here dodging kangaroos with a 1 hand on 12 and i have maintained control of the car at 80-110ks a hour while missing it.

As for people who drive with a arm out the window, i just laughed hard.

View Poll Results: How you hold the wheel most of the time when driving
Both hands on wheel, 10 and 2 o'clock	44	30.14%
One handed, left hand at 9 or 10 o'clock position	7	4.79%
One handed, right hand at 2 or 3 o'clock position	80	54.79%
One handed (either hand) at 12 o'clock	14	9.59%
Both hands, one at 12, one at 6 (or similar placement)	2	1.37%
Left hand on large Coke, right hand on Big Mac, knees/passengers do the steering	24	16.44%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 146. You may not vote on this poll