Hollywood movies show a lot of wrong examples of how the wheels of a car are turned. The reason for this is that the safe techniques for making turns while driving are far less dramatic. Keeping both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road are two essential aspects of turning the wheels of a car safely.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Hold the Steering Properly
Step 1. Keep both hands on the wheel
Be ready for emergencies in a split second and maintain as much control over the vehicle as possible at all times. If the car has a manual transmission, change gears when necessary, but afterwards do not leave your hand unnecessarily on the gear lever; put it back on the steering wheel immediately.
- To operate the windshield wipers, headlights and direction indicators, you must take your hand off the steering wheel. However, the controls for these functions are typically placed on the steering column, to minimize the time spent driving one-handed.
- Driving in reverse is the only exception to this rule.
Step 2. Maintain a firm grip
Resist the temptation to loosen it, but at the same time be careful not to tighten the steering wheel too hard; otherwise, your arms get tired and you may not hear the warning signals that the steering wheel transmits.
The "perception" of the car through the tactile sensitivity on the steering wheel is another reason why it is important to use both hands
Step 3. Place your hands at "10:10" or "9:15"
Imagine the steering wheel is an old analog clock with 12 o'clock placed at the apex of it. Bring your left hand to 9 or 10, while your right may indicate 15 or 10 minutes.
- The 10:10 position is more suitable for older cars and for all those that have a large steering wheel without power steering.
- The 9:15 position has instead become the norm on modern cars that are equipped with power steering, airbags and a smaller steering wheel.
Step 4. Pay attention to the thumbs
When driving on paved roads, hold the steering wheel by "hooking" it with your thumbs. If you are driving on dirt roads, take your thumbs off and place them along the edge of the steering wheel itself, as if you want to make the OK sign.
- If you keep them hooked under the edge of the steering wheel while driving on rough roads, you could be injured. The tires could hit obstacles with enough force to jolt the steering wheel in your hands.
- If you are driving on a paved road with your hands at 9:15, place your thumbs between the spokes of the steering wheel where they join the rim.
Part 2 of 3: Changing Direction
Step 1. Start with the "push and pull" technique
Pull the steering wheel down in the direction you want to turn (if you want to turn left, pull the steering wheel with your left hand and vice versa). In this step, relax your other hand by bringing it down to meet the one it is pulling right over your groin. When the two hands are close, loosen the grip of the one that is pulling and let the other take charge of proceeding with the rotation. Push the steering wheel up until you have turned correctly.
- When you are learning to drive for the first time, apply this technique to follow curves, as it is very easy to master.
- When you are on dirt roads or on a busy road and with many tight curves, use this procedure to rotate the steering; by doing so, the hands can access other controls more freely, such as the gear lever or the turn signal lever.
- You should also use it on cars with large steering or those that do not have power steering.
- This technique is sometimes also referred to as "drag".
Step 2. Switch to steering rotation
Turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the car to turn. Keep your hands in the 9:15 or 10:10 position as you do this. If you need to turn the steering wheel at an angle greater than 90 degrees to complete the turn, relax the hand above your groin and hold it there. Keep turning the steering wheel with your upper hand, until it meets the one at the bottom; at this point, bring your lower hand towards the apex and continue to pull the steering wheel to complete the turn.
- Use this technique for slight changes of direction, such as when moving to another lane.
- Try to use it when driving on freeways or other suburban stretches that allow for high speed.
- This technique is also referred to as "static".
Step 3. Learn to steer in reverse
Check all the mirrors to be sure there are no people and obstacles behind the car. Put an arm around the backrest of the passenger seat by rotating the torso 90 ° in the same direction; this way, you have a better view through the rear window. Grab the steering wheel at approximately 12 o'clock with your free hand. To turn the car to the right, turn the steering wheel to the right and vice versa.
- Remember that you have a limited view of the side corresponding to the driver when you assume this position.
- If possible, let the car roll by inertia. If you need to accelerate, apply only light pressure on the pedal and only for a few moments. Avoid going back too fast.
- When steering this way, don't rely on mirror images or the rear view camera alone.
Part 3 of 3: Drive Safely
Step 1. Adjust the position of the seat and steering column to suit your needs
Change their distance from each other so that you can sit comfortably. Don't move the seat back so far that you have to lean forward to reach the steering wheel. Avoid subjecting your body to unnecessary muscle tension that can distract you, tire you and make you less reactive.
The position of the seat affects the type of grip on the steering wheel that you feel most comfortable: the one at 9:15 or the one at 10:10. Taller individuals, for example, find the latter to be more comfortable, due to the limitations on seat and steering column adjustment
Step 2. Look at a distant point on the road
Try to keep your gaze between 800 and 1500 meters away. Watch out for any curves, hazards or other factors that require a change of direction. Be prepared in advance when you need to turn, make sure you have plenty of time to make the change of direction.
- If you have to go through a sharp curve that severely limits your field of vision, focus on the farthest point you can see in front of you.
- Trust peripheral vision to alert you to sudden changes that seem close.
Step 3. Take speed into account when steering
Remember that changing direction at low speed requires more physical effort to turn the steering wheel. Be prepared to turn it several degrees in slow-moving areas, such as parking lots, city streets, and urban areas. Conversely, the steering movement is much lighter at high speed. Be aware that a small rotation of the steering wheel produces a large change of direction on fast-driving roads, such as motorways.
Step 4. Minimize the occasions when you steer with stationary wheels
Turning the steering wheel with the car parked or stationary causes damage to the tires and power steering system. Do this only when necessary, for example if you have to park in parallel or do a three-stroke reversal; otherwise, avoid turning when the car is stationary.
Step 5. Practice making safe one-handed turns
Maintain optimal control of the vehicle while using other controls besides the steering wheel. Use the hand closest to the lever to operate the turn signals or shift gears as you drive. Keep your other hand where it is during these operations, don't risk letting go of the steering wheel just to change position.
Warnings
- Do not grab the steering wheel from below with the palms of your hands towards you, otherwise you force your arms to move unnaturally and reduce your ability to control the vehicle.
- Do not let go of the steering wheel to return it to its original position after the turn by itself. This behavior causes you to lose control of the car at a crucial stage, as well as the fact that the original steering position may not match a perfectly straight forward direction if wheel trim is inaccurate.
