How do you hold a steering wheel?

[Rawwr]

I think I might be getting a bit OCD about having to check how everyone holds their steering wheel. I find it amazing how many people drive along with just one hand on the wheel in the 12 o'clock position (or more typically their right hand in the 11 o'clock or left hand in the 1 o'clock).

Anyone here going to own up to driving like that?

[skip_1]

Usually 10 past 10 position. I have been occassionaly known to hold the sterring wheel at the 12 position, no idea why though

[Deluded]

1 and at da top of da wheel wit ma oter leanin out da winda an mi seat reclined al da way bak. bhes in da back wit som sik drum an bass boomin out mi bad sub zero 6x9s innit.




ETA : In all seriousness, It depends what I'm doing. Motorway, I tend to have one or two hands holding the bottom of the wheel and just cruise. Normal driving I tend to switch between right hand at about 1 oclock and the other on the gear stick to both hands at 10 and 2.

I do tend to find that I do most of the driving with just one hand at the top. It's actually pretty comfortable and I am concious that I probably look like a cock. Maybe I'm just getting more gangster as I get older.

Edited by Deluded on Thursday 22 April 08:47

[The Wookie]

I'll admit I occasionally hold my right hand at 11 o'clock, only really at parking speeds. Don't ask me why, I'm not trying to look cool, it just seems easier/more comfortable.

The rest of the time I'm at quarter to three, or right hand at three and left hand on the stick.

Not perfect, I know

[mazdajason]

Do quite a lot of city driving so it's right hand at 12 or 1 o clock and left hand on the gear stick.

[AdamW]

doogz said:

9 and 3. It's the only way.

+1

By which I mean that I agree, not that I hold the wheel at 10 and 4. That would be weird.

[RobM77]

Personally I use quarter to three because inputs from left and right hand are balanced.

I've noticed loads of people driving with one hand at 10 or 11 O clock though. It's well over half of people drive like that I think. I've tried it for a laugh and it felt awful! :-D Really uncomfortable and the car felt like it was trying to steer to the left all the time. Strange :-)

[Rawwr]

mazdajason said:

Do quite a lot of city driving so it's right hand at 12 or 1 o clock and left hand on the gear stick.

WHY!?

[anonymous-user]

i hold the wheel the same no matter what time of day it is.

[Colin 1985]

RobM77 said:

Personally I use quarter to three because inputs from left and right hand are balanced.

I've noticed loads of people driving with one hand at 10 or 11 O clock though. It's well over half of people drive like that I think. I've tried it for a laugh and it felt awful! :-D Really uncomfortable and the car felt like it was trying to steer to the left all the time. Strange :-)

Agreed. With hands at the 3.15 position is feels like most movements can be made with out having to pass the wheel through your hands except in the obvious instances.

I have never understood the having both hands at the top or near the top approach, it just seams that you can't make quick movements or apply as much force to the wheel.

[Accelebrate]

I try to not make a habit of it but I can comfortably and fairly confidentially hold the wheel with just my right hand. Same doesn't apply to my left hand though, I find it most odd when driving a LHD vehicle.

I also find a smaller wheel seems to encourage me to use both hands and vice versa.

[supersingle]

With my knees.

I need my hands for picking my nose and scratching my arse.

[RobM77]

Colin 1985 said:

RobM77 said:

Personally I use quarter to three because inputs from left and right hand are balanced.

I've noticed loads of people driving with one hand at 10 or 11 O clock though. It's well over half of people drive like that I think. I've tried it for a laugh and it felt awful! :-D Really uncomfortable and the car felt like it was trying to steer to the left all the time. Strange :-)

Agreed. With hands at the 3.15 position is feels like most movements can be made with out having to pass the wheel through your hands except in the obvious instances.

I have never understood the having both hands at the top or near the top approach, it just seams that you can't make quick movements or apply as much force to the wheel.

Geometrically, the idea behind 9 and 3 is that the force needed to turn the wheel is the same for both hands because you're across a diameter. Any other position, like 10 and 2, puts your hands across a chord so they fall from side to side when you turn the wheel. Think of where your finger and thumb instinctively go when you turn up the volume on a stereo.

Two hands also allows a lighter grip so more steering feedback can be felt.

[Munkeyfeet]

I vary between 10 and 2 or 1 (with the other on the gearstick)

When I do the one handed thing I dont hunch my shoulder over to look all street.

[ZesPak]

AdamW said:

doogz said:

9 and 3. It's the only way.

+1

By which I mean that I agree, not that I hold the wheel at 10 and 4. That would be weird.

+1

Tough, in city traffic, I catch myself quite often with the (left) hand on 10/11 and the right on the gear stick (LHD ofcourse).

[braddo]

I've found one hand at 12 feels awkward and that I wouldn't be able to steer the car properly. If I only have one hand on the wheel it stays in the 9 or 3 position. Two hands for corners.

Often on a long motorway drive I keep one hand at 9/3 and the other around 8/4 with my arm on the armrest, switching around periodically.

[alfabadass]

city driving = 10 to 10, when relaxed, left hand at 10 and right elbow on door.

motorway/a road = quarter to three

It's the only way to be sure!

[AlpineWhite]

DangerousMike said:

i hold the wheel the same no matter what time of day it is.

[Chapppers]

I've been finding driving becoming less of a challenge recently, so I've started driving at the "25 past 4" position, often alternating which hand I use to change gear, or getting a backseat passenger to do that in between screams.

[RicksAlfas]

Rawwr said:

I think I might be getting a bit OCD about having to check how everyone holds their steering wheel

While you're doing that watch how many female drivers, usually 18-30 and slightly chavvy, go round corners by putting their hand upside down at the top of the steering wheel. I have never seen a bloke do this or a "more upmarket" female driver. What's that all about?