Push-Pull technique

[rottie102]

Do they still teach you to steer the car this way on your driving test?

Am I alone in thinking that every single driver you can see on the road using this technique NEVER seem to be in control of the vehicle while turning, especially if a quick alteration is needed? (plus they all seem to drive Micras, Matizes and similar, but that's a different story )

I know it makes sense IN THEORY but don't most drivers stop using it straight after receiving their driving licence?

Any PHers PushingAndPulling?

Edited - because I'm a nice guy and wouldn't want to insult fellow PHers

Edited by rottie102 on Saturday 19th March 20:33

[Six Fiend]

I never Push-Pull because it doesn't work, I do however Pull-Push which is the correct method. When making tight manoeuvres I revert to rotational

Either is acceptable and covered in Police Roadcraft

I have many active brain cells and don't drive a Micra or Matiz.

[maniac0796]

When used in normal driving at speed, it's a smooth effective way of steering whilst keeping both hands on the steering wheel and not crossing them over.

You shouldn't use it whilst parking though. Even driving instructors should tell their students it's not meant for parking with.

And as said above, pull push is how it should be done.

My $0.02 on the subject.

[jas xjr]

I do . And I have never driven a micra or a matiz whatever that Is.
For me it stems from driving fully laden vans without power steering.

[Ritchie335is]

I always thought it was to keep learners speed down in tight bends as you can't wind lock on quickly enough using that technique.
I'm sure an instructor told me that once.

[Six Fiend]

Ritchie335is said:

I always thought it was to keep learners speed down in tight bends as you can't wind lock on quickly enough using that technique.
I'm sure an instructor told me that once.

In which case he was talking cobblers

[WeirdNeville]

Drive a car without PAS. That teaches you the origins of "push pull" and how useful it can be.

It's not the only way to steer, it's not the best way to steer in all circumstances, but it's a useful technique and should be a feather in the cap of anyone who considers themself a keen driver, IMO.

[davepoth]

It's the smoothest way of turning the wheel - if you're not able to drive using that technique you are probably doing it wrong.

[rottie102]

WeirdNeville said:

Drive a car without PAS. That teaches you the origins of "push pull" and how useful it can be.

It's not the only way to steer, it's not the best way to steer in all circumstances, but it's a useful technique and should be a feather in the cap of anyone who considers themself a keen driver, IMO.

I like that a lot! Brilliant answer! Thank you

[Billy Hunt]

I only learnt to drive recently and this method was never mentioned. I was only told not to cross my hands.

As soon as I passed I adopted the various techniques taught by my farther and my instructor to suit myself (including occasionally crossing my hands!). I also drive a car without PAS and as far as I'm aware I don't Push & Pull.

[Ritchie335is]

Six Fiend said:

Ritchie335is said:

I always thought it was to keep learners speed down in tight bends as you can't wind lock on quickly enough using that technique.
I'm sure an instructor told me that once.

In which case he was talking cobblers

Quite likely!

[Farmboy UK]

I was taught pull-push when learning 3 years ago. I would say in day to day driving I use pull-push a lot or a pull-push/fixed arm combination.
To be honest I use what feels appropriate to me and was never told off by my instructor for varying from the technique.

[davepoth]

Billy Hunt said:

I only learnt to drive recently and this method was never mentioned. I was only told not to cross my hands.

As soon as I passed I adopted the various techniques taught by my farther and my instructor to suit myself (including occasionally crossing my hands!). I also drive a car without PAS and as far as I'm aware I don't Push & Pull.

It's also called "feeding the wheel" and is the only technique where both hands remain on the wheel all the time apart from changing gear and operating the handbrake, which is (or at least was) part of the test.

[paps]

My missus is learning to drive at the moment and she isn't being taught the push/pull.
She says that her instructor took a dislike to a particular student and decided to conduct a little experiment; he decided not to teach him the push/pull to see if the student would get pulled up on it in his test. The student didn't so the instructor now doesn't bother with push/pull.

[Cock Womble 7]

I was taught to do it on my Class 2 lessons (five years ago) and on my Class 1 lessons (in December) because "That's what the examiner wants to see. You can go back to palming the wheel when you've passed".

IMHO, at best it's an arcane irrelevance. At worst it's potentially dangerous.

[vit4]

I rarely do it; Don't feel half as 'in control' when I do. That doesn't mean I'm crossing my hands at every turn, but just the way I feel most comfortable and safe.

Two cars, neither with PAS if that makes any difference.

[tank slapper]

I pretty much always do it, and find it natural. It means you can always put more lock on or take it off as required, and always have a positive grip on the wheel. Obviously, for track driving other techniques might be better, but for road use I like it.

I can't see how it could be considered in any way dangerous, unless you aren't doing it correctly. It's certainly safer than the right arm at 11 o'clock position, or holding the bottom of the wheel with one hand resting on your leg.

[mph1977]

the problem is a lot of people confuse pull-push or push pull with the pull-pull technique that the inexperienced taught by poor instructors do... there is a difference

[g3org3y]

I was certainly taught the method when learning to drive and continue to use it on occasion to this day (albeit not that frequently).

Pull-Push is (as mentioned above) covered in Roadcraft (along with 'Rotational Steering') and imvho a completely acceptable way to steer on a day to day basis.

Cock Womble 7 said:

IMHO, at best it's an arcane irrelevance. At worst it's potentially dangerous.

Slightly dramatic?

[CraigyMc]

I have a strong dislike of pull-push personally. I can do it, but I don't feel all that comfortable with it.
I use rotational steering instead, since I feel it allows faster corrections on the limit. I should probably add that I do a lot of motorsports (I kart on average >1x per week and often do other things like rallying and track driving).

It often strikes me that advocates of pull-push are the sort of people who would never get a car into a slide in the first place, and as a consequence they would have no need of the additional speed of correction rotational steering can provide.

I once had a chat about steering with a friend who is an ABD examiner. My view is that pullpush helps temper steering inputs (actually, the word I used was "neuter") and he agrees with this, saying it's more appropriate for the road. I can see that point of view. I'd just rather not be in a car where the driver only has muscle memory for pullpush, if it gets into an unexpected loss of control (black ice/diesel/whatever).

C