2y ago

YSK the updated steering wheel hand placement

In the past drivers were taught to keep their hands at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock. Now it is advised to hold the steering wheel differently depending on your steering technique

Hand-to-Hand Steering: When using this method, your left hand grasps the wheel between 7 and 8 o’clock, and your right hand between 4 and 5 o’clock.

these changes were caused by the inclusion of airbags and steering wheels becoming smaller

it is also advised to not wrap your thumb around the steering wheel but instead keep it flush to the face of the steering wheel, because if you are in an accident and the air bag is deployed your thumb being wrapped can cause injury

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/steeringtechniques.pdf

https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/emsworld/article/10322231/driver-airbag-hand-injuries-10-and-2-not-rule

8 comments

Meanwhile I'm here avoiding airbag related injuries by driving cars old enough not to have any. True big brain move right there if I do say so myself.
- They're also easily disconnected in case you don't want to be in a statistic like:
  Air bags were previously blamed for the deaths of 31 children and 20 adults--mostly smaller women--in low-speed crashes they otherwise could have survived.
  My wife (a 'smaller woman') will not sit behind one.

I do a single hand around noon.

Ever since I started sim racing I go 3 and 9. If it’s good enough for F1 it’s good enough for me.

My friend who is an EMS paramedic told me about the thumb thing. Apparently lots of people either get broken thumbs or they're lost entirely.
- That is just because of people holding on to the wheel during a collision, doesnt matter the wheel holding position just if the thumb is wrapped around the wheel. If a crash is unavoidable letting go of the wheel and letting the belt work is the safest. In formula 1 when the drivers are unavoidably heading twards a wall youll see them cross their hands on their chest so their arms dont fly around during an accident.

8 comments