Where do you folks like to hold the steering wheel? What feels most comfortable to you? Seems the steering wheel buttons for cruise and stereo are not really optimally placed for where your hands would normally be on the steering wheel. Maybe it's just a matter of time before they are more familiar but they don't seem as ergonomically placed as the stereo controls in my Toyota Sienna.

Also is anyone else annoyed by the key fob dangling from the key and knocking into your knee when braking? I put the smallest key ring I could find and tried to adjust the seat so that it won't hit my knee but I still end up hitting it a lot. Not a big deal, just slightly annoying.

 

Man I really have no set way I do it. Usually if I am doing daily errands in traffic I tend to hold the wheel at 10 and 2, but if traffic is moving slow I put my hands on the bottom part of the wheel. At night generally, or if I am cruising in an empty area, I tend to put both my hands together at the top of the steering wheel. Usually if its something that doesn't require a lot of turning (like being on 106 or on the highway). I guess its the same with my hands on the bottom of the wheel except at night I feel much more in tune with the car and road so I hold my hands on the top (messed up, I know, but some will understand). I also hold it on the sides, if I am looking for a station or a track or just if the time warrants it.

Yeah, I'm messed up

 

If I'm on the Highway, I usually grip the spokes where the audio controls are. If I'm on a road that has nice twisties, then 10 and 2. If I'm crusing in the city, one hand on top of the wheel.

 

I'm like KHill. Depends on what kind of driving I'm doing. I have a 6 Speed so most of the time I have the wheel either at 10:00 or 12:00, but once I'm at speed (not shifting) I'm usually at 6:00.

 

When cruising, 6:00 all the way, that is why I hate the T-shaped three spoke movement!

 

I usually put my left hand on top of the left spoke with my index and middle finger directly on top while my ring and pinky fingers are on the wheel part and my thumb over the audio controls. I switch channels like crazy so my left almost never moves from that position unless I am going through the twisties. Now my right hand will either be at 12:00 o' clock, 2:00, 6:00 or not on the wheel at all depending on how fast I'm going.

 

10 and 3.

ondersteer? What understeer?

 

Yeah I do a lot of what other people do too. Sometimes on hand is on top one is on the side, its all weird. Dunno when I do what, but I do it all :P

 

There is a right way and many incorrect ways to hold a steering wheel. 9 and 3 is correct, anything else compromises your ability to steer the car. The 10 and 2 still taught by many drivers ed classes is the bane of high performance driving instructors. Correct hand position on the steering wheel is the first thing taught in a driving class. I understand relaxing and putting hands in different positions but I wouldn't compromise my hand position any more than I would drive with my seat back laid down to the back seat.

Vandy

 

Top center when in gansta lean mode

 

I usually do the 9 and 3 for comfort and stereo control but will occasionally do the 10 and 2 for more spirited driving. I have the 5AT so will almost always have both hands on the wheel unless I am using the SS. I usually shy away from the gansta high noon thing only because I am afraid someone will hit me head on, activate the airbag and snap my arm in 2! And you know what else is worse, many female drivers will "underhand" or grasp with palm up under wheel at the 12 position right before making a turn. That SEVERLY undermines your ability to react if something happens as you initiate the turn. I yell at my GF all the time for doing this. I guess I come from the old school of wheel holding .

dsc888

 

Does anyone else find the steering wheel a little big, circumference wise? the thickness of the wheel is fine, but it's too round... almost feel like I'm driving a bus...

 

"And you know what else is worse, many female drivers will "underhand" or grasp with palm up under wheel at the 12 position right before making a turn. That SEVERLY undermines your ability to react if something happens as you initiate the turn. "

Oh, come on. That's not a "female driver" thing (I hate that nonsense). I see both men and women do that, just as I see both men and women talk on the phone, eat, drink, smoke and gesticulate while driving. And if anyone was to yell at me about my driving style, they'd be walking home! Not because I think I'm a better driver, just because it's rude!

Personally, I change positions all the time. If I'm stuck in traffic, it's 6ish. If I'm feeling speedy, it's around 11 and 1. If it's windy and I'm driving my husband's truck, it's 9 and 3 with white knuckles! But you gotta love those wheel-mounted radio controls!

 

I am curious. I keep seeing people say for spirited driving (or other words meaning the same thing) people talk abou 10 and 2 or 11 and 1. Why on earth would you put your hands there for "quick" driving? Next time you watch road racing watch where the drivers hands are, it will invariably be at 9 and 3, some race cars (F1 for instance) ONLY have a 9 and 3, since they don't have but about 3/4 of a lock of steering.

Next time you drive a car, try hanging your thumbs on the spokes and do a 90 degree turn (not in traffic) without ever removing you hangs from their positions! If you need more than about 200 degrees of lock (where most peoples arms hit each other and prevent further turning) shuffle your hands, so no hand ever leaves the wheel. It takes a little practice BUT it is the first and potentially most important skill to learn for high performance driving.

Vandy (who thinks most drivers ed teachers should be flogged)

 

ditto.

 

and i thought it was a jersey thing. I have seen granies drive to bingo like that......4 deep with their shades on.

 

yep. lots of control that way and both hands never leave the wheel during a turn.

My only problem is some very sharp turns my arms will lock. Never had this in "sports" cars.

 

6MT only use the 9 oclock position. the right hand is on the speed stick.

 

right by the left steering wheel controls are

 

Same here, i guess it is a jersey thing. ......how is 12 O'clock not on the poll!!

 

I usually drive with my left hand at 9 o'clock on the wheel and my elbow on the door. I use my left thumb to operate the buttons. Very comfortable for me. Right hand only touches the wheel for spirited driving and in tight parking areas. I voted 'other' because none of the options really represented what I do. BTW - The right hand is usually on the shifter whether I am in SS mode or not (I have 5AT obviously).

 

Damn auto owners...

You forgot an entry. Left hand at 12 noon, right hand on the stick, baby!!

 

 

left hand at 6 o'clock and right hand either at the shifter or gf's leg

 

For those of you using the 10-2 mode for "spirited driving, BE CAREFULL!!! I went to Summit Point last March and the only consistent teaching from the 3 instructurs were: racing line, easy transittions and acceleration, and hand position. The last one, you actually change it ALL THE TIME according to the track surface, because our cars have more than 2.5 turns lock-to-lock. The idea is to have the hands at the 9-3 position when hitting the apex of the turn. You dont need a huge amount of control at the begining of the turn. You need it at the point in which you apply the power when coming out of the turn, to either tighten or open the turning radius, or fight any torque steer.

 

I use mental telepathy to steer, thus freeing my hands for communion with beings in other dimensions.

You mere mortals amuse me.

 

I have used 9 and 3 since I took a car control course offered through Nissan in the late 80s. They got us to drive using 9 and 3 and then then put us on the skid pad. As we approached a light at 60 kph it would signal us to turn left or right. Of course, we all kept crashing into the cones until we got used to looking where we wanted to go rather than at what we were trying to avoid. Once we got the hang of this, they told us to go back to the hand positions we used before we came to the course. Of course, we all started crashing into the cones again.

Forget high performance driving. You should use 9 and 3 if you want the best chance of steering your way around trouble on the highway. By holding the wheel at 9 and 3 you automatically tend to bring the car back to a straight path after your have finished your steering input. Additionally, with your hands at 9 and 3 you can start your steering input without moving your hands on the wheel.

I can tell you 2 days in a course like this taught me the importance of holding the wheel at 9 and 3, left foot braking and avoiding driving at a speed beyond your ability to get out of trouble. I had expecte the course would make me a more aggressive driver. It made me into a more careful driver who is much less inclined to speed partcularly in dicey weather.

 

Thats exactly what I was taught in Motorcycle saftey.

I'm surprised no one mentioned it (or I didn't see it), but most drivers ed places are teaching 9-3 now, though not for performance driving reasons. The stated reason is 9-3 is "ergonomically better" than 10-2.

 

No disrespect to this whole 9-3 vs. 10-2 debate, which certainly has its merits, but in the real world people have to move their hands a bit to avoid fatigue of the muscles. The bottom line is the highlighted parts of the above quote. Most accidents are neither caused (nor avoided) by faulty (or good) hand placement, but rather by poor (vs. defensive) driving skills. Not driving too fast, not using a cell phone, not trying to eat a Happy Meal, keeping a safe distance, paying attention, not falling asleep, not driving drunk - these are the things that would (and do) save lives.

 

Performance driving is a little hard at 35-65 (there's a local law enforcement crackdown on speeders). I was taught the 9 and 3 method MANY years ago, but it's a comfort thing.

Oh, BTW, it doesn't matter what position your hands are at if the airbag goes off. My hands were at 9 and 3 when I had my accident many years ago, and I had big friction burns on both hands from the bag.