As you steer your vehicle, you should never take either of your hands off of the steering wheel. The push and pull method of turning the steering wheel allows you to safely rotate the steering wheel while keeping both hands in contact.
Experts at the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) now recommend 9 and 3 — on opposite sides of the wheel halfway up — as the ideal steering wheel hand placement. The 9 and 3 steering wheel hand position maintains good control over the wheel while reducing the risk of injury from the airbag.
“Is it bad turning your steering wheel all the way?” Generally no. You will often hear the power steering pump squeal as it tries to move the wheels beyond where they will go. In most modern cars, there are limit switches to avoid the issue.
Dry steering is not recommended as it is potentially damaging to front tyres and the car. Due to the car being stationary, you are essentially 'tearing' the tyres against the rough surface of the tarmac as you turn the steering wheel.
Several experts say hand-over-hand steering isn't the safest steering method for two main reasons. First, with hand-over-hand steering the driver's arm crosses over the center of the steering wheel where the airbag is located. In the event that airbag deploys, it could cause serious injury to the driver's arm.
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.
NHTSA recommends the driver use the area of the steering wheel area between “11 and 8 o'clock” with their left and the “1 and 8 o'clock” area with their right, regardless of which way they're turning. Using the hand-to-hand or push/pull steering method helps prevent injuries.
Crossing your hands can enable you to make a quicker turn, but you have much less control and it's less efficient. It's advisable to only use this method when manoeuvring and not when driving on the road.
A light grip is important for safety, as is the push-pull method of steering. If you wrap your fingers and thumbs tightly around the wheel and have an incident with, say hitting the kerb or driving into a pothole, you might find you lose control of the steering wheel as it spins violently out of your grip.
Palming is turning the steering wheel with the palm of your hands. Palming the steering wheel is not safe at all and you should avoid it. Palming makes your steering wheel slip away under your palm in case you drive on a road with rough surface, or in case of a car accident.
Setting the steering wheel position
If you can adjust the steering wheel then bring the height up so that your knees don't touch it while braking or using the clutch, and you can see the instruments through it. If your knees touch the steering column then you are at risk of injuring them badly if you have an accident.
Driving with one hand is not a good idea because you do not have as much control of the vehicle then if you were driving with two hands. In addition, driving with one hand while eating or drinking, is even more of a hazard.
Do not cross your hands over the middle of the steering wheel. Keep your hands in these positions, even when making turns.
The steering wheel: ideally, the steering wheel should be positioned so that its centre is at the same height as your neck. We recommend you flex your arms and place both hands on the steering wheel in a quarter-to-three position. Your elbows should be at 90 degrees.
Four-wheel steering technology is beneficial because it increases the vehicle's steering response time and helps keep the vehicle stable at higher speeds. With all four wheels steering, instead of only the front two, this technology offers unprecedented control and maneuverability.
Never drive with your hips lower than your knees. Your knees should be slightly bent, but your feet should still be able to reach the pedals easily for good control. Head/Neck: Your neck should be upright, with the center of the back of your head touching the center of the headrest.
Ideally, the back of your car seat should reach the height of your shoulders. If it is slightly higher or lower but you can still rest into it, it will be fine in most circumstances. Most car seats come with adjustable headrests. Ideally, you should be able to adjust both the height and the front-to-back position.
How Far Away From the Steering Wheel Should You Be? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that 10 or more inches is the appropriate distance between a driver and their steering wheel.
Aim High
ahead not only avoids rear-end collisions, but also alerts other drivers behind your vehicle to slow down. The driver should steer and focus their attention high, so as to view the road as whole and not just a few feet ahead.
The philosophy behind the 10-2 position was that the higher grip would enable a driver to keep the car running smoothly and he or she wouldn't need to jerk the wheel suddenly if cut off or there was a hazard in the road, according to SmartMotorist.com.
An added benefit of shuffling the wheel is that the driver's hands and arms stay away from the path of a potential airbag deployment should they get into an accident or other tactical / pursuit driving scenario.
Excessive Response/Touchy Steering: This is generally caused by excessive pump pressure. Borgeson offers a pressure reduction kit (PN 899001) that will allow the customer to adjust the internal bypass pressure of the power steering pump (self-contained and Type II with a remote reservoir).