"The first rule is to keep both hands on the steering wheel, parallel to each other. Move them from their position as little as possible, only on tight turns where you risk crossing your arms. This ensures precision, speed, and control. Don't rest your elbow (on the window) and don't relax: keeping your hands in place, besides helping you be ready in case of an emergency, helps you stay focused." A few lines, but a lot of substance from former driver Siegfried Stohr: a few words to summarize the importance of correct hand positioning on the steering wheel.
The general rule is clear: hands move on the steering wheel only when essential. The basic position is with hands at 9:15. This is a bit earlier – so to speak – than the rule that was valid until recently, which dictated hands in the 10 and 10 position. What has changed? The steering wheel. From being a tool solely for directional control, it has also become a safety device, thanks to the presence of the airbag. Today, various controls are integrated into the steering wheel: radio, cruise control, paddle shifters for gear changes. The diameter has decreased, the rim thickness has increased, and the spokes have enlarged. The new basic position is "suggested" by the new shape, naturally, to improve safety. With hands in the 10,10 position, wrists and forearms could – for example – interfere with the deployment of the airbag.
The basic position should be maintained not only on straightaways but also on wide turns that require a steering angle of less than 170°. A warning: the steering wheel should be "pulled," not pushed. If the turn is to the right, it is the right hand that applies the force and "pulls" the steering wheel downwards, so that the maneuver is more precise.
On tight turns, hands move on the steering wheel, but never randomly. Precise techniques are applied, to be adopted as alternatives depending on the situation. In the city, at low speeds, the "milking" technique is recommended. On the road, even in very tight turns, the dynamic technique must be used. The crossing technique – the most instinctive – is recommended for parking maneuvers but especially in the event of a skid.
You can find these techniques and many other tips for safe and conscious driving described in our manual Sicuri al volante (Safe at the Wheel), available in print on Amazon and in eBook and print versions on Lulu.
