How to Hold the Steering Wheel Correctly: Here Are the New Rules!
Remember your days at the driving school? Your instructor would have taught you the right way to hold the steering wheel. He/she probably drilled into you- ‘Hands at 10 and 2, like a clock’. It used to be the golden standard then. Holding the wheel at 10 and 2 would give the driver proper grip and maximum leverage for hand-over-hand maneuvers. Fast forward to 2025, and holding the wheel in the ‘10-2’ position could simply be very bad idea! It can even pose serious safety challenges. Modern cars demand modern grip. Now, the ideal way is to hold the wheel in the 9 and 3 and sometimes even 8 and 4 positions. Reason? Airbags! Let’s see how the inclusion of more airbags calls for updates in our driving styles as well.
Why Airbags Changed the Game
Indian cars have come a long way. Just a decade ago, dual airbags were a luxury. They were limited to just the higher trims and to expensive cars and SUVs. Today, even budget-friendly hatchbacks like the Maruti Alto K10 offer six airbags as standard. With Bharat NCAP protocols getting stricter and buyers becoming more safety-conscious, airbag counts have become a big selling point.
But here’s the catch: airbags deploy at lightning speed—within milliseconds. They explode out of the steering wheel with incredible force. The sole duty of airbags is to save you from smashing into the dashboard. If your hands are placed too high on the wheel (like the 10-2 position, for example), the airbag will slam straight into them, potentially causing serious injuries before it even cushions your body.
The explosive nature of airbags have also made it necessary to exercise additional caution while travelling with kids. In previous cases, we saw how they can even choke kids seated in the co-driver seat to death.
The Old Way- 10 and 2: Why It Made Sense Then
Back in the day, cars and SUVs did not come with airbags. Many of them even lacked power steering. You needed plenty of muscle to operate them! The 10-2 grip would give you the maximum grip and gave the driver maximum control- especially around tight corners. Most modern cars come with electric power steering (EPS) systems. Turning the wheel is very easy. It doesn’t require ‘muscle’ anymore!
Holding the wheel so high, in fact, tires the arms and even slows down reactions in emergencies. The driver airbag further puts this grip at a disadvantage, as mentioned above. Outdated, unsafe, uncomfortable- that’s what the 10-2 grip today is!
The New Standard: 9 and 3
Modern driving schools and safety experts now recommend the 9-and-3 position. This essentially means gripping the steering wheel at both ends, hands parallel to each other, and at equal distance from the airbag. This grip also keeps the driver’s arms clear of the airbag’s blast zone.
This grip offers a balanced, precise control, which can be of great use in tricky driving scenarios and in emergencies. It also lowers shoulder fatigue. This grip also allows quicker, smoother steering corrections as well. It is probably the most ideal for stop-and-go city drives.
The Long-Haul Option: 8 and 4
While cruising through highways and expressways, it is more ideal to adopt the ‘8 and 4’ grip. More people are now adopting this position. The hands here are placed slightly lower than they are in the previous grip and are thus safer if the airbag goes off. This grip will be of great use on long-hauls and road trips, as it puts less strain on the driver’s back and neck. It can be a very practical choice inside the city as well.
Smart Steering Habits Every Indian Driver Needs
- Hold the wheel firm, not tight. Stiff arms can lead to slower reactions in emergencies.
- Thumbs outside. If they are hooked inside, an airbag blast can potentially break them!
- Always keep at least one hand on the wheel. Modern cars may come equipped with fancy ADAS features. But it is a very unsafe practice to take both hands off the wheel and rely completely on electronics.
- Learn the ‘push-pull’ steering technique for smoother maneuvers without lifting or crossing arms. This is when you use your hands on opposite sides of the wheel to turn the vehicle, without crossing them and keeping them on the wheel at all times. Use one hand to push-turn the wheel to the desired direction and the other to support the action by pulling.
Bottom Line
Adapting to modern cars and safety standards requires some amount of unlearning re-learning. One such move is the transition from ‘10 and 2’ to ‘9 and 3’ grip. Having the right grip is crucial on the Indian roads where things can get surprising and messy