Safe driving and received wisdom

[davepoth]

When moving, the difference between two and one is obvious. Drive around a corner at 40mph+ that has a pothole in it with only one hand on the wheel and you'll see what I mean. My mum does this every single time on a road near our house and it always jerks the steering towards the verge.

If you have the arms in the correct "slightly bent" formation and hands somewhere above quarter to three, any force transmitted through the steering into the wheel will be damped by the muscles in the arm, since both biceps are working a little to push the hands upwards. Take one hand off the wheel and the damping effect is removed.

[Brian Trizers]

For some reason this has only recently occurred to me, but I've now become almost absurdly sensitive to it, especially when it's someone else driving. I even find I can close my eyes and still know whether my airport taxi driver is steering with one hand or two. (Curious that some people who drive so much seem to do it so badly, not just the steering - but perhaps that's another thread!)

It is all about keeping the inputs small; it's difficult to apply or wind off steering smoothly with one hand - probably more so with modern, super-light power steering. And it doesn't take a pothole to upset the line; even little bumps - and there are plenty of those on my regular routes - can do it.

[BertBert]

My experience is the opposite. Plenty of people (that I know) seem to be able drive very capably with one hand on the steering wheel.
Bert

[dvenman]

BertBert said:

capably

Capably, perhaps. However, smoothly ? There's no question in my mind it's far easier to make much smoother inputs with two hands.

[anonymous-user]

In my experience, the actual physics of the situation are almost irrelevant, but the aim of the game is to keep the driver focused on the task in hand. So, "keeping two hands on the wheel at all times" is about not becoming lazy and distracted, rather than some physical control influence!

Lets face it, driving is 99.99999999999% boredom, and for the vast vast majority of the time, it's rather dull and un-eventful. However, rarely, you will need to act rapidly, decisively and at that point, a driver who is concentrating and has been observing there situation properly is going to be a lot safer than one who's not being paying attention.......

[WD39]

Reading through the thread, I can see tht the PHers don't take this subject too seriously. But for what it's worth.

Two hands on the wheel, ten to two/quarter to three, unless performing essential motoring functions.

Palm steerers: Out of Here!!

[Cmann]

Most accidents are caused by drivers losing control of the vehicle. The only way you can effectively lose control is from the steering wheel, therefore I would presume that in those instances two hands is a hell of a lot safer than one.

[Foppo]

Most accidents are caused by drivers rushing not concentrating or bored.There are so many reasons why people have accidents.Tired after a night shift driving home.Safe driving is a art and everytime you step in a car try to enjoy it no matter how difficult that can be.Hands on steering wheel is part of that.I sometimes use one hand for steering in slow traffic problaby a bad habit.