Steering Wheel Positioning Tips According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, keep 10 inches or more between a driver and their steering wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the steering wheel should sit 10 inches away from the driver's chest for optimal safety. However, many drivers don't abide by this rule, and because of the way drivers' airbags are designed, sitting too close can be very dangerous.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that roughly 10 inches or further is an optimal distance between a driver and their steering wheel, due to the amount of power that an airbag can produce when it deploys, this will help keep you safe.
To make sure you're sitting far enough away, push your shoulders back into the seat and extend your arms over the top of your steering wheel. Your wrists should rest easily on top of the wheel's rim. Any closer is too close.
Because a steering wheel airbag can generate a force of nearly two thousand pounds at speeds in excess of 200 miles an hour, sitting too close to the steering wheel and airbag can cause catastrophic injuries or death on impact.
As a general rule you want to sit as low as possible with your legs straight, and your body is stretched out. This gives a nice low centre of gravity, the steering wheel is moved closer to your body, and the low seat base adds to the feeling of speed when you are driving.
When turning the wheel, you need to use both your right and left hands. By using both hands, drivers can turn the steering wheel not only correctly but also smoothly at road intersections, roundabouts, and other similar places. Also, it helps to turn the wheel both in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction.
The Three-Second Rule
Increasing the distance between you and the car ahead can help give you the time you need to recognize a hazard and respond safely. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance.
We here at Oxford Automotive can answer that question quickly and easily: Your steering wheel is off-center when you're driving straight because your wheels aren't aligned correctly. This is one sign of a bad wheel alignment, and you might notice the steering wheel is crooked right after you've had the wheels aligned.
Hand Position
Both hands should be placed outside of the steering wheel on opposite sides. Your grip should be firm, yet gentle. Use your fingers instead of the palms of your hands and keep your thumbs up along the face of the steering wheel. Never turn the wheel while gripping it from the inside of its rim.
Hand position on steering wheel
You probably learned to keep your hands at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions on the steering wheel. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends drivers put their hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions.
Your hands should be where the “two” and “10” numbers would be. NHTSA's recommendations have changed in recent years, however. The organization now suggest drivers lower their hands a bit to the “9 and 3” position.
There is one rule that the Department of Motor Vehicles recommends all motorists do to avoid collisions with such objects. It advises that drivers should scan the road at least 12 seconds ahead to avoid potential trouble spots and to identify possible road hazards.
Move your seat back as far as you can while still comfortably reaching the pedals. You should be at least 10 inches from the steering wheel, from your breastbone to the center of the wheel.
The US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration recommend that drivers maintain distance of least 250 mm (10 inches) from the steering wheel to reduce risks associated with airbag deployment.
Sticking or binding components, such as a king pin, ball joint, bell crank or even the steering column can prevent the steering wheel from returning to center after a turn. Alignment can also be a factor; improper caster, and to some degree, improper toe-in, can be contributing factors.
Then you align the front wheels so that they're pointing straight ahead. And when you're done, everything should be as nature intended it. TOM: If you don't turn the steering wheel to its proper position first, after the alignment's done you could find yourself out of luck.
Bad Bearings — Friction from bad bearings or inadequate lubrication can cause a shaky steering wheel. If bearings are the cause, you'll notice that the shaking only occurs as you turn the wheel. To solve this problem, you can oil the bearings, or schedule a service appointment to replace them if there's damage.
The 3-second rule advises you to keep a distance of three car lengths between you and the car in front. This has also been described as the distance you could travel in three seconds at an average speed. Maintaining this space between cars is a simple and proven way to avoid rear-end collisions.
Rule #1: Do Not Tailgate
"Here's the deal. Figure one car length for every ten miles an hour," Barndt said. "So if you're doing 55 miles an hour you should have six car lengths between you so that if something happens to the car in front of you, you have time to stop or react."
If you're driving a long vehicle (over 7.5m, including towed vehicles), you must drive at least 60m behind other long vehicles, unless you're: driving on a multi-lane road. driving in a built-up area. overtaking.
Better Handling
Another effect of being closer to the ground is improved responsiveness, more stability, and grip at speed. Because lowering means getting stiffer springs, there is less weight transfer when you hit the gas or brake hard. This means you'll enjoy faster acceleration and quicker stops.