When a driver gets behind the wheel for the first time, their instructor demonstrates proper hand placement on the steering wheel. Students are often told that this position is a crucial component of driver safety, as it allows for better control of the vehicle at various speeds and driving conditions. However, due to changes in onboard collision protection technology, the old way of holding the wheel could cause more harm than good.  

How Hand Placement on the Steering Wheel Impacts Driver Safety

Why Did the Traditional Placement Fall Out of Favor?

In the past, driving instructors have taught students to look at the steering wheel like a face of a clock, putting their left hand in the 10 o’clock position and their right hand in the 2 o’clock position. Today, holding the wheel at this angle could cause serious injury. Most modern cars are equipped with airbags that deploy at high speeds. The traditional 10 and 2 position could leave arms in close range of the impact zone, increasing the risk of severe injuries. 

How Should Drivers Hold the Steering Wheel?

Driving instructors still use the clock model, but they now recommend holding the steering wheel at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions to prevent injury in case the airbag deploys. This slight adjustment from the traditional position increases driver safety considerably, as it puts your upper extremities out of harm’s way. 

Why Is Proper Hand Placement Important?

Practicing the correct hand placement on the steering wheel keeps you safer on the road. Since your limbs are out of the path of the airbag cover panel, a minor fender bender is less likely to turn into a life-altering accident. Keeping your hands at the 9 and 3 position reduces the likelihood of walking away with severed fingers, broken arms, or serious burns if the airbags are activated during a collision. 

When you want to learn the rules of the road from instructors who emphasize driver safety, enroll at The Driving School. With locations in Oxford, Eaton, Fairfield, and Ross, OH, the school is known throughout the area for providing adults and teens with up-to-date driver education that promotes safe behavior behind the wheel. To sign up for driving lessons, call (513) 523-7001 today. Visit the school online to browse their class schedule by location.