How do you hold your steering wheel?

[nakedpeanut]

So basically how do you hold your steering wheel?
I drive an '06 Polo my steering wheel looks as such: Image
I've got two positions basically:
hands at 9 and 3 with thumbs over the bars for traffic, cornering or when going fast.
then when I'm cruising on a nice long stretch, left elbow is resting on inner door arm rest and holding 4/5ish by the bar.
and right hand is assisting from bottom while resting on legs.

I never liked the 10 2 position. Just feels weird!

 

[Voicy]

Most of my driving is long distance, so I've adapted that style:

Right elbow on window rest with index and middle finger clenching the wheel at 3 o' clock and thumb stabilizing. Left hand rests on my left leg and hold onto the bottom of the steering wheel with 3 fingers at 6 o' clock.

 

[nakedpeanut]

Ya basically the same as mine except my arms kinda short so it is more comfortable with my arm lower down..

 

[bodhi]

with my hands.

fingers secured firmly on the steering wheel

 

[hawker]

Most of my driving is long distance, so I've adapted that style:

Right elbow on window rest with index and middle finger clenching the wheel at 3 o' clock and thumb stabilizing. Left hand rests on my left leg and hold onto the bottom of the steering wheel with 3 fingers at 6 o' clock.

+1

Thats how I drive.

Although when going at highspeed, or really heavy traffic, I use the whole 10 to 2 thing.

 

[genetic]

with my hands.

Me too. Tried with my feet, but it's becomes very difficult to accelerate and brake and turn.

 

[Psycho Pitbull]

Most of my driving is long distance, so I've adapted that style:

Right elbow on window rest with index and middle finger clenching the wheel at 3 o' clock and thumb stabilizing. Left hand rests on my left leg and hold onto the bottom of the steering wheel with 3 fingers at 6 o' clock.

Crap, that's exactly how I do it as well.

Sometimes on the long trips I hold the steering wheel with my right hand at the 12 o'clock position, and my left hand resting on top of my right elbow, for some strange unknown reason I find that quite comfortable.
I developed that habit a couple of years ago, with my previous employer whereby I travel from Gauteng to the Northern Cape quite extensively (almost on a weekly basis).

 

[fdaniels]

I normally only hold the steering wheel with one hand, unless i need to do some tight cornering at speed. I normally hold the wheel at 4 or 5 o'clock when driving slowly, or 12 to 1 o'clock when driving fast.

 

[Shake&Bake]

Same as Voicy, though my left hand doesn't do the 6 o'clock thing.
Left hand drops down onto the gear lever or left leg.

I drive an auto now after having driven manual all of my life - it's made me a lazy bugger
At high speed I'll do the 10-2 jobby.

 

[JK8]

Only hold it at 3.
Bad habit of keeping my pinky finger on the outer part of the wheel. Left hand either on the armrest, the gearknob or playing with the radio.
When I smoke I just change hands, left hand at 9.
Cornering fast right, right hand at 12, cornering left, right hand inside the wheel.

10 2 position only when I'm lost lol

 

[Colin62]

Steer with my knees, cellphone in my left hand, cup of coffee in my right. The newspaper gets draped over the steering wheel, so that I don't need a third hand to hold it...

 

[Picard]

If you are a 18yo with big biceps in your own opinion then you should be holding the wheel at a 12 o'clock position with a straight left arm and with your right shoulder dropped below the door panel and your right hand on your crotch.

I drive 9-3 ... sitting up straight.

 

[copacetic]

I am not certain the word 'hold' really applies to knees.

 

[scotty777]

I usually drive with right hand on the steering wheel and my left hand doing the other tasks like gear shifting, changing songs, or it rests on the steering wheel.

I've also adopted a way of turning the car with the palm of my hand (so the whole hand is open), and then I let the steering wheel slide through my hands when it's correcting itself .

 

[hawker]

I've also adopted a way of turning the car with the palm of my hand (so the whole hand is open), and then I let the steering wheel slide through my hands when it's correcting itself .

I'm also a keen advocate of the palm turning method!

 

[FarligOpptreden]

Most of my driving is long distance, so I've adapted that style:

Right elbow on window rest with index and middle finger clenching the wheel at 3 o' clock and thumb stabilizing. Left hand rests on my left leg and hold onto the bottom of the steering wheel with 3 fingers at 6 o' clock.

Same for me, except my left elbow is resting on the console box with hand resting on my leg... I'm lazy like that!

 

[MFour]

hmm so not many here seem to believe in safety first I guess. Oh well, freedom of choice is a wonderful thing

 

[Keeper]

I sit as Low as I can, almost lying down, and then clench the wheel at 12:00 with my right hand, with my left hand holding the left seat's headrest.

I only do the 10 to 2 thing when I see i'm starting to fall asleep again (usually after I hear car horns and wake up the 2nd or 3rd time)

 

[USZA]

Proper driving position

A proper driving position will improve your outlook - and safety

If you think proper driving position means having your hands positioned at "10 and 2 o'clock" on the steering wheel (as they taught you in driver's-education class), get with the times! You see, automobiles have changed considerably in the past few years... and therefore, so should your driving habits. Relax - the changes are minor, and they can actually increase your driving safety and comfort, which will come in handy on those long road trips.

Nowadays you should:

Sit slightly reclined with your shoulders comfortably back in the seat. Sit as far back from the steering wheel as possible while still remaining in safe control of the vehicle.

Hold the outside rim of the steering wheel at "9 and 3 o'clock" or slightly lower. This position will minimize the risk of injury to your arms, hands and fingers in case your airbag deploys. Your arms should be bent slightly.

Be able to pivot your right foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal without lifting your heel from the floor.

Not checking your "blind spots" - those areas just outside the field of vision - can have disastrous effects when merging onto the highway or changing lanes. In fact, thousands of accidents occur each year because people who are changing lanes fail to see a vehicle that is right next to them before making such maneuvers! One of the ways you can protect yourself is to make sure your vehicle's side and rearview mirrors are positioned for maximum road view.

For the driver's side mirror: Place the side of your head against the window, then adjust the mirror until the side of your vehicle comes into view. For the passenger's side mirror: While sitting in the driver's seat, lean to the right so that your head is in the car's centerline. Adjust the mirror until the side of your vehicle comes into view.

There's an easy test you can take to make sure your mirrors are aligned correctly: When a vehicle leaves the field of vision of your rearview mirror, you should be able to see it immediately in one of your side mirrors.

 

[nakedpeanut]

That sounds kinda how I drive. With the exception of my mirrors. While I'm driving I can just just see the rear door handles. I do a lot of reversing out of tricky driveways and that helps alot! I do make a conscious decision to always check my blind spot so no matter..