Two WRONG ways to steer, two CORRECT ways to steer for cars, 4x4s and racers

[@DavidS-dw1wv]

I love the detail of your explanations.

[@L2SFBC]

Glad you like them!

[@jackdawg4579]

Yes, after doing an advanced driving course several years ago for work, i learned apparently i hold the wheel wrong, after 30 years of holding at 10 to 2, I was informed that is a no no, must be quarter to three now, but we were told it was so air bag deployment didn't knock your hands off the wheel.

[@L2SFBC]

That is one reason, but the others I mentioned are also valid.

[@glennj6465]

The RoSPA say 9/3But still moan when you rotate steer 😢Must push pull cost me points 🙄🙄🙄

[@jackdawg4579]

@@L2SFBC your reasons are better in my opinion, if the air bag has deployed I doubt my hands still being on the wheel are going to help me all that much!

[@MattBlack6]

You'd imagine that once the airbags have been deployed, your steering input is not going to make much more difference.

[@philrichmond5919]

More so the hands don’t affect airbag deployment. It’s there to protect your brain not your hands.

[@fredio54]

You touched on it, but 3-9 symmetry and balance are critically important to stability over dumps and dips. Otherwise sudden and unexpected G forces will cause undesired and sometimes extreme steering events.

[@CRUDEDriving]

Well I guess I don't have to do a video on this now! 😆 That first wrong hand positioning that is under the rim of the wheel is one that makes me cringe when people do it! 😬 It's rare but usually when a student driver hasn't had professional driving lessons they would be doing that under the rim position. Eventually after much deliberation and reinforcement, they stop doing it and never do it again. 9 and 3 for the win and great to see a mix of steering methods! 💯 Excellent video as always! 🙏🏾 Cheers, Robert.

[@soulshinobi]

Good practice is to focus more on the pushing than the pulling, it promotes smoother input.

[@samday6621]

Great video. I would also add, not to curl your thumbs around to the inner rim of the wheel especially during off road driving and perhaps race track. If the steering wheel makes a rapid movement this can catch a thumb. Particularly noticeable with tacky steering wheels, steering wheel covers with grip/texture or sharp edged steering wheel brace/spokes.

[@overlandready]

A good video, Personally I use all the methods except the and under the top of the wheel as it's not great unless you have no power steering in a power steering vehicle and not moving or moving very very slowly. Palm on the top of the wheel has saved me on a aquaplane/fishtail, as very little resistance so can move the wheel fast left and right, but it's not guaranteed to work, most off orad is 3-9, and a lot of highway is one hand finger's throough the wheel at 6 or 7 (depending on steering wheel design), as it's comfortable and no need to have a lot of turning ability. The only thing I will really add is off road keep the thumbs out from inside of the wheel where a wheel rip can break your thumbs, racing is not so important, but still a consideration on some corners. I have fited a smaller wheel to the Defender, the same style and sixe as I had on the 80's Fords, in fact the only real difference in the wheel is the column fixing and the badge. That will not be as good off road as the larger original but on road it will be more comfortable.

[@ifyoucantjointhem]

9 & 3 also helps with blood flow to your hands as they are not elevated above your heart, apparently. It's also more comfortable with modern steering wheel designs with palm mouldings designed to receive your hands ergonomically, which helps with fatigue. Good video 🤙

[@L2SFBC]

Great addition thanks!

[@glennj6465]

@@ifyoucantjointhem ya fare point makes sense especially on long trips 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Chris_the_Muso]

9 to 3 also reduces fatigue on long highway stretches. Hanging off the steering wheel at ten to two really stresses the wrists and forearms. I drive a fourby, so the thumbs are *always* on the outside. I did develop some bad habits due to the vehicles I was driving. My first car was a 1968 three on the tree HK Holden, so ten to three was standard (right elbow on the window sill LOLOLOL). My first fourby was a 1984 Hilux with no power steering and that was bear to drive off road - push pull for everything and some trails with lots of tree roots it felt like you'd done a marathon. I learned to keep my elbows tucked in after I got my elbow smashed on the door by a tree root. Eventually I bought a toyota power steering pack from a wrecker and got it installed. best upgraded ever. Wish I still had that vehicle - I got married and sold it, but I'd swear I'd still be driving it today otherwise. Detroit lockers, long range fuel tank, could go through 1 meter deep creeks no problem. They just don't make them like that any more and I miss it so much.

[@flipcoin6301]

Steering wheel distance also affects the amount of control and leverage. Don’t wrap thumbs tightly around the wheel when off-roading. If the steering wheel kickback, it can injure thumbs.

[@drewiliffe4855]

Great video, Always use both hands all of the time at 9 & 3. Another benefit is that's where all of the controls are (cruise, volume etc). Can you do a video on how to calculate the gap between you & the vehicle ahead?

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks - re gap, wait the vehicle ahead rolls over something, say one mississippi, two mississippi and when you get to three that's three seconds and your default gap, more for towing.

[@drewiliffe4855]

​@@L2SFBCyes I do that now. If good conditions I usually use 2 seconds and add 1 second for rain and add another second for night driving. I have lost count on the number of times another driver has jumped into my lane and taken my gap. The other topic you could cover is looking ahead. Many people seem to just look at just in front, perhaps 20 metres and never look into the distance.

[@brianjensen5200]

Just put two slabs of beer between you and vehicle in front of you. When they pass a road marker (or other distinct feature), you count one slab of beer, two slabs of beer, and then you pass the same feature. That's a safe stopping distance. That's what I was taught when I did my advanced driving course 25 years ago.

[@brianjensen5200]

@@L2SFBC also worth considering is that if you do keep a 3 second gap, you'll avoid majority of the stone chips on the bonnet.

[@glennj6465]

Can I add The 9/3 your elbows are lower so if you have to do a fast reverse you are more stable and will stay straight as your looking 👀 around and mirrors 😁🇬🇧

[@L2SFBC]

good point, yes

[@phillip.9524]

You have less strength using back hand steering , just get someone to pull the wheel and you are unlikely to stop the movement. Most people I have shown the technique Robert explained realise that holding the wheel at 9 and 3 . Instead of the top of the wheel decreases shoulder pain after a long drive as your upper body is not twisted. Using 9 and 3 lets you use all the control buttons on the wheel without removing your hands.

[@L2SFBC]

More good points!

[@HeavenlyWarrior]

The first way, my car doesn't have an airbag so I can do that even though I usually don't, although sometimes it's useful. The second way I use a lot just to rest my arm and body and mostly only happens when there's a driver in front of me driving too slowly to even bother putting the 2 hands in the steering wheel. I only use the 2 hands when I'm driving fast or when I'm avoiding obstacles or lots of corners.

[@L2SFBC]

Makes sense!

[@MattBlack6]

There is a reason that hand rests or the best spots on modern steering wheels are at nine and three.

[@Wdeane1957]

A variation of the one hand on top of the steering wheel method I've seen (especially by drivers on long country roads) is their hand not actually holding the steering wheel but have their hand hanging over the wheel, not holding it but their palm resting on it. I hate to think how they can react to a pot hole or animal, or even how they manage to steer properly.

[@TheRandomAustralian]

Minor accident turned into a broken wrist and broken nose for a friend of mine, by doing exactly what you say not to at the start. Hand across the steering wheel, airbag went off, broke his wrist blasting his arm away, which impacted his face and broke his nose. Not a fun day!

[@andrewahern3730]

What's that attached to your head rest? I would have guessed camera mount, but the camera isn't attached to it

[@L2SFBC]

Yes, camera mount, but opted not to use it for the main part of the video. Some of the background uses that exact mount. See my GoPro video for details.

[@operation4wheelz]

I would suggest three good types, but you actually demonstrate all three - Pull push Hand over hand Fixed

[@L2SFBC]

Yep one way to look at it!

[@operation4wheelz]

@@L2SFBC when using fixed, I actually hold the wheel slightly below 9 and 3. Goes back to karting days but it also helps to get a bit leverage and a little more lock while remaining fixed.

[@nisu1918]

Thanks for the detail explaination, just started driving in my first car so this is useful information here. Couple of questions: Is steering with 1 hand, mainly using the palm a good idea? I tried it myself and it felt awkward. I suppose that's bad practice but it's so common (the guy that I brought the car from did it, almost all of Uber driver I saw did it). Also when I apply throttle, the steering wheel has a force to return to the center. Is it a good idea to rely on this after the turn? E.g. after the turn, let go of my hands slightly and grab on it once the steering wheel goes back to the center, while maintaining the 3-9 hand position all the time. I can grab on earlier if I need to turn more for fine tuning the timing. Really not sure if this is a good practice though.

[@L2SFBC]

Palming is not a good idea, you don't have a firm grip on the wheel so any bump could throw you off. Yes, steering wheels return to centre, but manually turn the wheel yourself. The reason again is any bump will throw off the centring, and that could push you out of your lane.

[@nisu1918]

@@L2SFBCMake sense, thanks!

[@jerryfrench2981]

I was teaching my son to drive & taught him the push pull method. Then he took proper lessons & the first thing the driving instructor said to him was your dads English isn't he....

[@L2SFBC]

:-) what would the instructor have suggested?

[@jerryfrench2981]

@@L2SFBC He had him crossing hands.. I suppose it was a very long time ago learned to drive. I learnt in the army at age 16. They sent us off for 2.5 days training with BSM in a mini metro. I passed first time then didn't drive a car for 6 months until I was posted to my first unit where they sent me on exercise with a long wheel base land rover towing a water bowser.. That was fun....

[@fredio54]

Tonight I terrified my poor wife by geeting a high CG narrow K car WAY up on two wheels on a roundabout in a hurry that she caused. I corrected and stabilised it, then gave it another tweak and flopped it down again. No harm done except in her head. Ha ha.This brings the number of on two wheels occasions up to 5. One was VW rear wheel tuck in. Two were utes. One was a wagon R wide turbo manual suzuki at pace on an offramp.

[@060racing8]

Do you have any advice on steering a car in an off-road situation that has a manual steering box and a front locker?

[@L2SFBC]

Auto or manual locker?

[@060racing8]

@L2SFBC auto

[@jerrymyahzcat]

I’ve done a defensive driving course and two advanced driving courses. This is good info. On the F-150 Tow Test where you exited the roundabout you displayed an abysmal driving habit of NOT indicating when you exited the roundabout. I thought much more highly of you than that. Unacceptable especially on a You Tube video where many see you as a mentor and professional. Disappointing. Also when positioning your seat the accepted distance from the steering wheel when your shoulders are a gained the backrest - is for you to be able to rest your arm on the top of the steering wheel at your wrist and your hand should droop over the wheel. That way when you hold the wheel correctly, you have the correct bend in your arms. The way you demonstrated shows you grabbing the TFC of the wheel with a straight arm - I’d argue this point that it makes your arms too straight for comfortable, relaxed and controlled driving.

[@L2SFBC]

Roundabout- didn't indicate left as it was a tiny roundabout and by the time I passed the first exit you're about out of the roundabout. Road rules say indicate if practical, driving advice is ensure people know what your intentions are. I met both. Hand grasp. I used to do the drape wrist method but changed it after discussion with some trainers. Reason is that if you have your shoulders back and grasp the top that is sufficient, and there are definite problems with getting too close to airbags. Shorter drivers can end up too close to the airbag and even 30mm back can make a difference. It is still possible to properly control the wheel with the method I showed.

[@jerrymyahzcat]

⁠@@L2SFBCThanks for the response and you are correct about the indicate if practical rule (it’s a stupid rule), the issue is it’s always practical. Even on the smallest roundabout, you just flick the indicator as you leave. I’m able to do it in any vehicle including a truck even on a roundabout that has a 1m wide centre circle ⭕️, yes they exist. The law is poorly worded and allows it to be used as an excuse that it wasn’t practical - it’s always practical. So many laws in Aus are far too vague and this one. Fair enough about the hand thing on the wheel, I agree don’t do it if your arms are so short that you’ll be too close to the airbag. What I said was what the professionals & trainers always told me.

[@L2SFBC]

Yes I used to say the same until we sat down and looked at it again. Then I updated my advice.

[@robertcroll6546]

I keep my thumbs out of the way so I don't have to change behaviour when off road