Where do you put your hands?

[smrtmama]

On the steering wheel when you drive, I mean (you dirty minded things, you!).

 

Answers are given in clock positions.

[melissel]

The old 10 and 2 for me. I find it most comfortable, and it feels safer than my previous, pre-kids, "one finger at the bottom of the wheel, hand in my lap" positioning.

[Chris in VA]

I still do 10 and 2, but the new recs are 3 and 9 because of the air bag--it can break your arms.

[melissel]

The old 10 and 2 for me.

 

And boy, that DOES sound kinda dirty, doesn't it?! :w00t::lol:

[Daisy]

I voted 10 and 2.

 

If I am driving one-handed though, I'm an underhanded 8. :D

[smrtmama]

I voted 10 and 2.

 

If I am driving one-handed though, I'm an underhanded 8. :D

 

That's why I was curious! DH often holds the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand, probably because he spends so much time having to answer radio calls, sending MDT messages, etc. while on the job.

[smrtmama]

I still do 10 and 2, but the new recs are 3 and 9 because of the air bag--it can break your arms.

 

DH says it also gives much better control of the steering wheel (not that he does any such thing).

[Melissa B]

I drive one-handed usually at 12:00 but sometimes at 6:00.

[Peela]

DH says it also gives much better control of the steering wheel (not that he does any such thing).

 

I have looked at this too because I am a one handed, 6 o clock driver too. My father brought it to my attention when he visited recently. He and his wife commented that they felt very safe driving with me, and that I seemed like a good driver- yet I drive the same as my dad- one handed, 6 o clock. Of course, I put 2 hands on as soon as I need to and rarely turn a 90degree corner with one hand :)

Since they made the comment I have really been noticing...and I feel I have a lot of sensitive and fine motor control of the steering wheel driving this way. I have consciously tried other ways and it doesnt feel comfortable to me. Of course, we have power steering- I couldnt do it without it, I imagine.

 

ETA I never text or answer my mobile or even fiddle with the radio while driving. The other hand often just rests on my lap.

[amydavis]

When I took driver's ed (a loonngg time ago), I was taught 3 & 9. However, 10 & 2 feels better to me, so that's what I do - if I'm driving with two hands. If not, then I will usually have one hand at the 12 o'clock position...or sometimes, if I'm feeling a little wild and crazy, I'll do a one-handed 6 o'clock! :D

[Food4Thought]

I drive one-handed - around 12:30, the same way my dad does, constantly tapping my thumb against the steering wheel to whatever music I hear.

 

When I have to have both hands on the wheel, it's usually 10 & 2.

[Rosie_0801]

When I took driver's ed (a loonngg time ago), I was taught 3 & 9. However, 10 & 2 feels better to me, so that's what I do -

 

:iagree: I have to have been driving for hours and hours before I rest a bit by driving one handed. One handed with the other on the gear stick while going around roundabouts doesn't count, does it? No texting here either. It's illegal!!

 

Rosie

[Miss Peregrine]

1-handed 6 o'clock:)

[SquirrellyMama]

I sometimes do a 1 and 6, sometimes just a 6 and sometimes and underhanded 8 or 12. When I'm in a tense situation I do a 10 and 2.

 

Kelly

[OnTheBrink]

1-handed 6 o'clock:)

 

:iagree:

[KidsHappen]

I usually drive at 10 and 2 but sometimes on a long distance trip I slide down to 9 and 3 or I use only one hand at 12:00.

[patchfire]

I try to do 9 & 3. In practice I do 11 alone far too often. Hey, there are things to do with that right hand. :tongue_smilie:

[nukeswife]

It really depends on my mood. So that can mean ...

 

sometimes 9 and 3,

sometimes one handed 12

sometimes one handed 6

sometimes underhanded 12

sometimes underhanded 8

 

I can't say that I do one more than the other though, it's all pretty much equal.

[edithcrawley]

I mostly do 10 and 2, the steering wheel has the cross bar at 9 and 3, so holding it there isn't very comfortable. Sometimes I'll drive one handed at the 5 (unless I have to turn)

[Remudamom]

Six. With my knee. If you see me coming just get outta the way.

[keptwoman]

I used to do 10 and 2, but that is very dangerous with airbags, so now I do 9 and 3, and our steering wheel has handy things right there to rest on. Sometimes one handed, usually around 5-6.

[amydavis]

Six. With my knee. If you see me coming just get outta the way.

 

:lol:

Thanks for the warning! :tongue_smilie:

[PinkInTheBlue]

I would guess myself to alternate pretty evenly between 10-2 and 6-2. Sometimes just 6.

[SLH in ND]

Driver's Ed in 1982 taught 10 & 2. I've tried the 9 & 3, but the way our car's steering wheel is "formed" there, it doesn't feel as comfortable as 10 & 2.

 

Sheri :)

[krisperry]

one handed - left hand slightly crossed at 1 o clock

 

in town driving or highway - 10 and 2

[Caitilin]

one handed: left hand at 11 o'clock

 

two handed: left hand at 7 o'clock, right at 2 o'clock

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I tend to find myself gripping the wheel very tightly, so I shift positions quite frequently. I'll start out at 10 and 2, then move to 6, then to 12, then to 7 and 4, then 11 and 1, etc.

[Carrie12345]

I usually wind up around 12:30-1 and 8'ish.

[Wheres Toto]

On our Suburban I sometimes do 10 and 2 but I did actually break my wrist from an airbag so I try to remember not to do that. I will move down to 9 and 3 but I will usually have my index finger and thumb hooked around the panel going across the inside of the steering wheel with just the other three fingers hooked around the outside of the wheel. Sometimes I rest both hands on the internal panel and on long highway trips I will have one hand at 6 resting in my lap.

 

My Civic is a manual transmission so its completely different. Usually I feel the best control with my left hand at 10, right hand is either on the gear shift or at 4/5 position underhand. I do occasionally do turns one-handed if I need to shift at the same time (which is most of the time I guess) but will usually move to 9 and hook the inside cross panel to gain additional control with turning.

 

I do have a habit of gripping too tightly and if I keep my hands in the same position too long, my fingers get numb.

[FeFe]

Usually 9 and 3 but if I'm honest, I'm probably all over the wheel - over, under, one hand, two...

[smrtmama]

When I hold the wheel at 9 and 3, I feel like I'm driving one of those video game arcade car games.

[Geek]

When I drive two-handed, probably 10 and 2. But I often drive one-handed (left) and my hand is at about 10:00.

[Mejane]

I'm a one-handed 3 o'clock. I usually have a cup of coffee in the other hand. :blushing:

[Sun]

I tend to do one-handed, at about 8:00, or 10 and 2. I'm trying to change the 10 and 2 position because of the new recommendations, but 9 and 3 is hard for me to get used to.

[ereks mom]

I still do 10 and 2, but the new recs are 3 and 9 because of the air bag--it can break your arms.

 

:iagree: I was taught 10 & 2 in driver ed way back in 1975, but ER was taught 9 & 3 when he took driver ed a few years ago.

[Parrothead]

Almost always one hand at the 12.

[Melinda in VT]

I'm trying to transition from 10 and 2 to 8 and 4 or 7 and 5.

 

My cousin had broken hands/wrists from an airbag injury with her hands at 10 and 2.

[gpsings]

I was always told 10 and 2, but I keep them somewhere around 6 now, since I've seen some nasty airbag injuries.

[Geek]

I was always told 10 and 2, but I keep them somewhere around 6 now, since I've seen some nasty airbag injuries.

:eek: Do tell.

 

I was thinking about this thread yesterday while driving. :tongue_smilie: It appears I drive with my left hand at 12:00 nearly always, unless I'm driving at higher speeds on the interstate.

[MamaT]

I usually drive one-handed at 6, unless I am in a stressful situation. Then it is 9 and 3.