Steering Wheel Hand Position | Progressive (2024)

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Steering Wheel Hand Position | Progressive? ›

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.

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.

“4 and 8” is the new “10 and 2”. Why? Because the “4 o'clock and 8 o'clock” hand position keeps your wrists and arms out of harm's way if the airbag deploys.

Not only will the proper placement of your hands on your vehicle's steering wheel help you pass your driving exam, but it will also contribute to your overall safety while on the road.

The 10-2 position was taught for so long because the higher grip enables a driver to keep the car running smoothly without needing to jerk the wheel suddenly if he is cut off or there is a hazard in the road. But doing it the old way could risk serious injuries to a driver's hands or fingers if the airbag activates.

Historically, drivers have been instructed to hold the steering wheel at the “10 o'clock” and “2 o'clock” positions. The reasoning is that this allows for maximum hand-over-hand control when making turns. Old as this advice may be, there's a very good reason why you shouldn't drive at “10 and 2.”

It's harder to swerve or oversteer with your hands lower on the wheel vs having them higher on the wheel where your natural reaction is to pull down. Finally, on long stretches of freeway or highway, 8 and 4 allows you to relax your muscles more and reduces the amount of stress on your neck, shoulders, and upper back.

Drivers can place their hands at 10 and 2, 9 and 3 or 8 and 4, Penning says, as long as they are using both hands and their hands are placed symmetrically. There is one position that is not recommended: 12, or a hand on the top middle of the wheel.

Like most of us, we were taught to hold the steering wheel at 10 and 2. But most of us learned to drive before the invent of the air bag. Due to how air bags are deployed, it is now safer to hold the steering wheel at either 9 and 3 or 8 and 4.

So, forget what you've heard. Crossing your arms is perfectly acceptable on the driving test, as is positioning your hands in an unconventional way. Myth: busted!

What is a common and yet terrible way that people often hold the steering wheel? ›

Many of us who have been driving for 20 years or more were taught to place our hands at the 10 and 2 positions on the steering wheel. However, this is no longer the correct way to hold a steering wheel in modern vehicles. The NHTSA now recommends holding the steering wheel at the 9 and 3 or the 4 and 8 positions.

Contrary to popular belief, crossing your hands on the wheel won't result in your failure. Examiners look for you to be in control of the vehicle and steering wheel, but this doesn't mean you'll automatically fail if you move your hands from the recommended position of around '3 and 9 o clock'.

Historically, drivers have been instructed to hold the steering wheel at the “10 o'clock” and “2 o'clock” positions. The reasoning is that this allows for maximum hand-over-hand control when making turns. Old as this advice may be, there's a very good reason why you shouldn't drive at “10 and 2.”

The reason why 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock are no longer recommended is that it can be an unsafe technique when used in vehicles with smaller steering wheels and are airbag-equipped. Read on to learn more.

The 10 and 2 o'clock hand position on the steering wheel is no longer recommended because it can obstruct the deployment of the airbag.