When turning your steering wheel, a common and recommended technique involves a smooth, continuous motion known as the hand-to-hand or push-pull method. This method allows for precise control and helps prevent crossing your arms excessively, which can be a safety concern.
Understanding Steering Techniques
Effective steering is crucial for vehicle control and safety. While there are different methods, the hand-to-hand technique is widely taught and beneficial, especially during more significant turns or maneuvers.
The Hand-to-Hand (Push-Pull) Method
This technique involves one hand pushing the wheel up while the other hand slides down and then pulls the wheel up on the other side. The hands continuously slide and grip the wheel, never crossing over one another beyond a certain point.
Based on the provided reference, the process involves actions taken during or after turning to either continue the turn or unwind the wheel smoothly:
- During or After the Turn: As you turn or begin to straighten the wheel after a turn, you continue to use this technique.
- Repositioning Hands: One hand pushes the wheel while the other prepares to grip higher up.
- According to the reference: "And once we turn we lift the left hand place it next to the right hand and opening the arms. And then lift the right hand place it next to the left hand and opening the arms." This describes the action of releasing the grip with one hand, moving it up the wheel (next to the pushing hand), gripping again, and then pulling or allowing the wheel to unwind ("opening the arms").
Here's a breakdown of the movement as described and commonly practiced in the hand-to-hand method:
- Start with your hands typically at the 9 and 3 o'clock or 10 and 2 o'clock positions on the wheel.
- To turn, say, to the left, your right hand pushes the wheel upwards while your left hand slides downwards.
- As the wheel turns, your left hand releases its grip when it reaches the bottom (around 6 o'clock).
- Your left hand then moves swiftly up the wheel to grip it higher up (near the 12 or 1 o'clock position, next to your right hand, as described in the reference: "lift the left hand place it next to the right hand").
- Once your left hand grips again, it pulls the wheel downwards while your right hand slides up.
- This push-pull action is repeated as needed to turn the wheel further.
- To straighten the wheel after the turn, you reverse the process, allowing the wheel to feed back through your hands using the same push-pull motion or letting it naturally return while guiding it, again repositioning hands as described: "And then lift the right hand place it next to the left hand and opening the arms." This "opening the arms" motion corresponds to the hands moving apart as the wheel unwinds.
Why Use This Method?
- Control: Provides constant contact with the steering wheel, allowing for fine adjustments.
- Safety: Reduces the risk of injury in case the airbag deploys, as your arms are less likely to be in front of your face.
- Smoothness: Helps in making smooth, controlled turns and in recovering from turns gracefully.
While the initial grip is important (usually 9 & 3 or 10 & 2), the actual turning motion using the hand-to-hand technique involves this continuous process of pushing with one hand and pulling with the other, constantly repositioning your grip on the wheel as described in the reference.
