If you picture your car’s steering wheel as an old-fashioned round clock, most drivers were taught to hold the wheel at the 10:00 and 2:00 positions. While this may have served drivers well when the idea was introduced, it is now recommended that drivers hold their steering wheels at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions. Read on to learn more.
7 and 4 and 9 and 3 are Safer Than 10 and 2
According to the most recent suggestions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), you should keep your hands at the 9 and 3 positions when conducting hand-over-hand steering. The three steering methods recommended by the NHTSA for various situations include:
- Hand-over-hand steering
- Hand-to-hand steering
- One-hand steering
Hand-Over-Hand Steering
This method should be used when turning the wheel at low speeds with limited visibility at an intersection, when parking, or when recovering from a skid.
Hand-To-Hand Steering
Commonly referred to as push/pull steering, this method suggests that drivers hold the wheel at the 7 and 4 positions. The NHTSA recommends hand-to-hand steering as the preferred method rather than 10 and 2 because it can be unsafe in vehicles featuring smaller steering wheels and are equipped with airbags.
One-Hand Steering
When you must reach for another operating control, such as your windshield wipers or blinker, it’s best to keep your hand at the 9:00 or 3:00 position in order to maintain stability, reduce steering reversals, and allow for added steering efforts as necessary.
We Can Help Injured Crash Victims
If you’ve been hurt in a car crash through no fault of your own, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team right away to learn more about what we can do to help.
Call our firm today at (512) 400-3278 or fill out the online contact form to learn more about your legal options.
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