[sswaroop]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

Could you please explain the issues with doing these two actions?
Is it wrong/ harmful to press the clutch if one is slowing down gently like when approaching a round about you are at 70 kmph and know that you would need to slow down to around 20-30 depending on the traffic you encounter? If you are in the 5th gear, you would need to use your clutch as you start slowing down.

On point 1, don't you need to use the clutch if you slow down to go over speed breakers?

Usually engaging the clutch at higher speeds increases breaking effort since the vehicle speeds up a little as wheels are in free motion. So it is better not to engage clutch until you feel the vehicle is jerking since it is in the wrong gear. You'll get better at doing this with practice and without jerking the vehicle. I usually use the brakes when in higher gear and use the clutch just at the right moment to change to the appropriate gear required for the upcoming speed. Speed bump at 50 in 4th, or 65 in 5th, break until about 20, engage clutch, shift to second and continue on.

Unless you are going over Rumblers, you'll invariably have to almost slow down to less than 20kmph at a speed bump, so you'll need to engage clutch anyway. I usually drive over Rumblers at normal speed since I feel very annoyed going over them at crawling speeds. This is my personal preference of course.

[m_upreti]

I drive a non airbag equipped Scorpio (2007) and normally use a single hand (at 3 'O Clock) position but the arm starts aching in small drives also, I have tried adjusting the steering (up / down) and the seats (back / forth) but no avail.

On high speeds and really bad patches of the road where there is a chance of being thrown about I use the 9 - 3 position with a tighter grip.

[SnakemanJohny]

Strange how most people seem to prefer 9-3 position as most comfortable ! Having started with the 10-2, I catch myself often in the 11-1 position during long drives when I need not use the shifter frequently -- so that must be comfortable for me. Of course, I drive non-power steering with no airbag, a rarity these days ! But at any speed over sixty, I do not feel comfortable without both hands on the wheel, as nobody knows when you have to suddenly swerve because of a dog or cow or man that makes a sudden appearance on the horizon !

One question I have of 'Sutripta' and 'SS-T', do power steerings have the self-centering feature ?

[nishsingh]

Just wondering if different steering holding positions might be preferred depending on the vehicle.

Looking at the posts in this discussion, SUVs, with a higher up and upright seating positions might be better for either 7-4 or 9-3 (depending on their preference), while drivers of low seated cars might feel more comfortable with either of 10-2 or 9-3?

[nishsingh]

[quote=nishsingh;3568145]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

Could you please explain the issues with doing these two actions?

Sswaroop above has already mentioned what I felt too.

I don't think riding the clutch is ever a good idea. The driving schools seem to be wrongly forcing the over-usage of the clutch on learners. I guess they are more bothered about is the car not stalling while being driven by the learners, than teaching them about the finer points of clutch (if they themselves know it, that is).

Speaking of which, I believe they too teach the 10-2 steering position over the 9-3 position.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by SnakemanJohny

...do power steerings have the self-centering feature ?

Yes, pretty much all vehicles, irrespective of steering bing power-assisted or not, will have this feature. Dependent on the geometry of the suspension, where the wheels want to point straight ahead on their own if aligned properly.

[Lobogris]

Discovery TV has an article that stating as follows:

Finding: BUSTED
Explanation: In June 2009, The New York Times reported on a car accident in which one driver nearly got his right thumb ripped off by the force of the airbag detonation. His hand was in the wrong place at the wrong time, firmly planted on the horn when the airbag burst through.

However, other anecdotal evidence has also indicated that the safety devices aren't safe for thumbs, and some driver's ed courses warn new motorists against gripping steering wheels with their hands in the classic 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions for fear of losing their fifth digits in a wreck.

The MythBusters blew up the latter theory by creating a crash-test dummy with lifelike arms and hands (and, of course, thumbs) and subjecting it to a series of airbag explosions. No matter what position the dummy's thumbs were in on the steering wheel - curled around it or resting on top of the wheel - the airbag consistently struck the dummy's arms first. Consequently, the inflating bag forced the arms outward, bringing the hands off the steering wheel before it could make contact with the digits.

The MythBusters didn't test the thumb risk associated with laying on the horn like The New York Times' subject did, but their tests did bust the myth that an inflating airbag can blow off your thumbs while they're in the "10 and 2" positions on the steering wheel.

Guess your grip is safe.

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/my...thumbs-off.htm

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

...tests did bust the myth that an inflating airbag can blow off your thumbs while they're in the "10 and 2" positions on the steering wheel.

Injury to hands/arms/fingers is the least of our problems when driving on a day-to-day basis. Placement of hands at 9-3 is the optimized position for best car control for any driver.

[joybhowmik]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Placement of hands at 9-3 is the optimized position for best car control for any driver.

SST,
I have a very simple rule. I place my hands where they feel most comfortable. For me, last 20 years - this has invariably been 9:30 - 2:30.

Never had any major accident. Have managed quite well to swerve out of the way of obstacles multiple times.

I think instead of being prescriptive, leave it to the driver in question- does he feel comfortable? The answer does not have to fit the one prescribed standard.

Variations are possible , nay welcome, and are another feedback to the car manufacturers and driving trainers, to provide more individualized offerings - whilst not compromising safety.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by joybhowmik

...I place my hands where they feel most comfortable. For me, last 20 years - this has invariably been 9:30 - 2:30.

If you will notice, I said...

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

1. 10-2, 9-3 and 8-4 are all valid positions to hold the steering wheel. Each has its advantages and disadvantages...

The range of hand positions best suited to safe driving extends from 10-2 to 8-4, and you are free to choose.

However, comfort and safety need not necessarily be inter-related.

If by comfort you mean ergonomics, yes, each car model is slightly ergonomically different from another, and there is no one-size-fits-all formula, as you discovered some time ago with your own Innova. So if 9:30-2:30 suits you, and still leaves 10" gap between your chest and the steering centre boss (and airbag), carry on with it.

The only message I want to convey in this thread, is not to drive for extended periods with only one hand on the steering wheel, as a matter of habit.

[joybhowmik]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

If you will notice, I said...

The range of hand positions best suited to safe driving extends from 10-2 to 8-4, and you are free to choose.

However, comfort and safety need not necessarily be inter-related.

If by comfort you mean ergonomics, yes, each car model is slightly ergonomically different from another, and there is no one-size-fits-all formula, as you discovered some time ago with your own Innova. So if 9:30-2:30 suits you, and still leaves 10" gap between your chest and the steering centre boss (and airbag), carry on with it.

The only message I want to convey in this thread, is not to drive for extended periods with only one hand on the steering wheel, as a matter of habit.

My response was to your statement "9-3...is the optimized position for best car control for any driver."
Using the word "best" for "9-3" clearly over other "valid" positions - that too from someone with a great deal of credibility on this forum - implies the need for others to correct themselves - even when there's no correction required.
I am glad that your latest response has endorsed (equally?) all the widely accepted positions for holding the steering wheel.
I am also glad that you concede, that each car is different (seat height, outward visibility, position of steering , angle of wheel) , each individual is different (height, arm length, torso height ) not to mention any specific special needs (back pain etc), and therefore the combination of the two requires not one best position - but a range of valid positions to safely operate the car.

[Optimus7]

After trying out various steering positions, I have settled to use the 9-3 or 8-4 positions. I find that these positions apart from being easy on your arms, also lets you provide smoother steering inputs. Whenever I used the 10-2 position, I felt that my steering inputs were a bit inconsistent, smooth at times, but sharp turns more often.
These might be due to various reasons, one, the arm is not comfortable at 10-2 position for longer duration and two, your hand comes down when you turn in as compared to going up in the 9-3 or 8-4 positions.

I have seen a lot of cab drivers leaning forward and holding the steering at 10-2 or 11-1 position and in most cases their steering inputs are sharp/sudden.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by joybhowmik

My response was...
...your latest response has endorsed (equally?) all the widely accepted positions for holding the steering wheel.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

...and still leaves 10" gap between your chest and the steering centre boss (and airbag)...

Is this some kind of contest to prove yourself right? Please go right ahead and drive as you always did, irrespective of what I might say or not. Replace your steering wheel with a handlebar for all I care. Hold it at 10-4 or 8-1 or any other number combination if that suits you - I don't drive/ride in your car, so it doesn't matter to me. I am not endorsing whatever you think I might be endorsing - I am no brand manager for hand positions on steering wheels.

After all, your safety is your choice.

[joybhowmik]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Is this some kind of contest to prove yourself right? Please go right ahead and drive as you always did, irrespective of what I might say or not. Replace your steering wheel with a handlebar for all I care. Hold it at 10-4 or 8-1 or any other number combination if that suits you - I don't drive/ride in your car, so it doesn't matter to me. I am not endorsing whatever you think I might be endorsing - I am no brand manager for hand positions on steering wheels.

After all, your safety is your choice.

I did not say that this is a contest, nor did I mean it to be one.

OT:
At the heart of the issue - All I am saying is that words should be chosen carefully - especially when they contain guidance for people , and the post is from someone who enjoys a huge amount of credibility on the site.

If my observation has caused an offense, and hurt your sensibilities , I understand - the first reactions to feedback always are - we are all human. But, if you think about the core point I am making in this post in a rational moment, I hope you will embrace it.

[Wanderers]

Hi

For me, the steering holding position goes hand-in-glove with seat height and distance I am driving.
During long drive, I choose lowest seat position, lowest steering tilt and 8-4 steering position, which may be not technically correct but I feel comfortably doing it as I am not looking for turning steering more than few millimeters.
This also safety guards me from over steering during high speed cruising.

Sometime the steering position is driven by type of steering. For example- In New Fortuner, you cannot doe 10-2 or 9-3 for long due to sweating and would need to change position to something below 9-3 as its the leather portion of steering.