Driving Position / Where to hold the steering wheel!

scooby05 · 25th January 2007, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

My preferred position when i'm concentrating on my driving is 10 to 2 with the seatback upright & the seat pulled back to the location where my left leg can depress the clutch fully without stretching it completely.

Also the straight seat-back helps with my back condition a lot.

Absolutely Correct, when your alert and focused yours is the right postion.
My suggestion was only when you want to do relaxed driving, forgot everyone on this forum are into serious and alert driving

mobike008 · 25th January 2007, 14:26

For me gripping the steering is as follows:-

Relaxed driving : Left hand at 12'clock and right hand on the window sill

To enjoy the pleasure of quick gearing: Right hand on 12'clock and left hand on the gear knob for fast shifts

Highway Driving: Sometimes right hand on 3'Clock and left hand on the hand brake for better grip ( learnt it from being a passenger with an ex-rally driver) and most of the times both hands at 9-3 clock for concentrated driving

Seating is preferably with all the way back

sbasak · 25th January 2007, 14:46

Best driving position is often down to individual choice and the car itself to some extent.
After some experimentation I following these rules

1. Steering 10-2 position. Except for changing gears, I don't drive with one hand on window sill.
2. Seating position to a point where I can depress pedals fully AND not too near to give an ache in the leg AND can see all mirrors properly.
3. If height adjutable seat, then high enough to see edge of bonnet (if possible at all)
4. Backrest usually in upright position - not too inclined.

Unfortunately majority of cars in India don't offer height adjustable seat or tilt adjustable steering. So, more often than not, its the case of adjusting yourself to the car than adjusting the control for your best comfort.

navin · 25th January 2007, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

My preferred position when i'm concentrating on my driving is 10 to 2 with the seatback upright & the seat pulled back to the location where my left leg can depress the clutch fully without stretching it completely..

Give the man a cigar. That is as close to technically perfect as you can get.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

Also the straight seat-back helps with my back condition a lot.

Et tu? At your age?

esteem_lover · 25th January 2007, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

Et tu? At your age?

its nothing to do with age, navin. something to do with the nictone & liquotine.

)

mahadev_kc · 25th January 2007, 15:28

Beginners question.
What is this 10-2, 9-3 positions?

Is it a seating position or hand position on the gear and steering ?

Provide me some gyan

satish_appasani · 25th January 2007, 15:40

Generally, i push my seat all the way to the back and incline the back rest little backwards bur make sure my back and neck are always supported. BTW, I am 6' 1".

Recently i am suffering with lots of muscle pain around the neck. I am guessing it to be due to my car seating position. When i reduce the incline, the position is not comfortable to me. Still experimenting for the perfect position.

iraghava · 25th January 2007, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

Give the man a cigar. That is as close to technically perfect as you can get.

Thank you, Thank you!! But I don't smoke so can I have a bottle of Single Malt instead?

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

Et tu? At your age?

Yeah had a bad fall when I was about 10-11 years old so as a result have a displaced L5 disc. Bad I know but what to do, have to live with it while taking the necessary precautions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

its nothing to do with age, navin. something to do with the nictone & liquotine.

)

Nothing like that EL!!

GTO · 25th January 2007, 16:00

My driving position is that of a "sleeper". Literally! Thats what my friends have named me. I like the seat back about 120 degree down, and the seat pushed all the way back. Needless to say, not too many people can sit on the back seat.

The right hand is at a "1" and the left is on the gear-lever.

tifosikrishna · 25th January 2007, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahadev_kc

Beginners question.
What is this 10-2, 9-3 positions?

Is it a seating position or hand position on the gear and steering ?

Provide me some gyan

Its the hand position on the steering, imagine your steering wheel as a clock and your hands as hour and minutes hands...

paras211 · 25th January 2007, 18:32

mee too gto same position n get the sleeper thinh too steering between fingers n a hand on gear knob

gd1418 · 26th January 2007, 16:27

I concur. Was taught the 10-2 when I learnt driving in '76. continued with that till recently. Now I use 9-3 with the back upright. Way back in '76 when I learnt on a Landmaster the back wasn't adjustable and the seat moved front or back as a whole monobloc unit. But then one needed to kinow how to do that & required well toned muscles..!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

We used to be tought that hands should be at 10-2 but that was 25 years ago maybe things have changed.

sreenivass · 26th January 2007, 16:35

mine is closer to 9-3 when I am trying to be perfect, it may go more like 10-2 or some where in that area.

mithun · 26th January 2007, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by khanak

What i do is push my seat back all the way until my when my hands are fully stretched out my wrists are on the steering wheel. In a Santro this means that the seat is fully pushed back...

If that is your driving style, what about the state of rear passengers ???? They may be having a tough time at the rear seat when you're driving !!!

snaronikar · 16th January 2008, 20:34

Hi,

Was thinking of this for quite some time. Though I hold the steering wheel in 10:10 (of a clock) position. Although, I read in some news article as they had recommended to hold the hands at 10:00 (of a clock) position. I know it also depends on the comfort of the driver to hold the steering wheel as it suits him/her better.

But technically speaking, what is the right position to hold the steering wheel? Can the experts give a opinion.

@ Mods: Thought this is the right sub-forum to open this thread. If this has to be moved to different sub-forum, pls do so.

25th January 2007, 14:26	#17
mobike008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 11,696 Thanked: 14,809 Times View My Garage	For me gripping the steering is as follows:- Relaxed driving : Left hand at 12'clock and right hand on the window sill To enjoy the pleasure of quick gearing: Right hand on 12'clock and left hand on the gear knob for fast shifts Highway Driving: Sometimes right hand on 3'Clock and left hand on the hand brake for better grip ( learnt it from being a passenger with an ex-rally driver) and most of the times both hands at 9-3 clock for concentrated driving Seating is preferably with all the way back
	() Thanks

25th January 2007, 14:46	#18
sbasak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CCU-LTN Posts: 608 Thanked: 14 Times	Best driving position is often down to individual choice and the car itself to some extent. After some experimentation I following these rules 1. Steering 10-2 position. Except for changing gears, I don't drive with one hand on window sill. 2. Seating position to a point where I can depress pedals fully AND not too near to give an ache in the leg AND can see all mirrors properly. 3. If height adjutable seat, then high enough to see edge of bonnet (if possible at all) 4. Backrest usually in upright position - not too inclined. Unfortunately majority of cars in India don't offer height adjustable seat or tilt adjustable steering. So, more often than not, its the case of adjusting yourself to the car than adjusting the control for your best comfort.
	() Thanks

25th January 2007, 15:28	#21
mahadev_kc BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 328 Thanked: 48 Times View My Garage	Beginners question. What is this 10-2, 9-3 positions? Is it a seating position or hand position on the gear and steering ? Provide me some gyan
	() Thanks

25th January 2007, 15:40	#22
satish_appasani Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,112 Thanked: 104 Times View My Garage	Generally, i push my seat all the way to the back and incline the back rest little backwards bur make sure my back and neck are always supported. BTW, I am 6' 1". Recently i am suffering with lots of muscle pain around the neck. I am guessing it to be due to my car seating position. When i reduce the incline, the position is not comfortable to me. Still experimenting for the perfect position.
	() Thanks

25th January 2007, 16:00	#24
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,698 Times View My Garage	My driving position is that of a "sleeper". Literally! Thats what my friends have named me. I like the seat back about 120 degree down, and the seat pushed all the way back. Needless to say, not too many people can sit on the back seat. The right hand is at a "1" and the left is on the gear-lever.
	() Thanks

25th January 2007, 18:32	#26
paras211 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 646 Thanked: 108 Times View My Garage	mee too gto same position n get the sleeper thinh too steering between fingers n a hand on gear knob
	() Thanks

26th January 2007, 16:35	#28
sreenivass BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore India Posts: 932 Thanked: 44 Times View My Garage	mine is closer to 9-3 when I am trying to be perfect, it may go more like 10-2 or some where in that area.
	() Thanks

16th January 2008, 20:34	#30
snaronikar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,845 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	Correct Position of holding the hands on steering wheel. Hi, Was thinking of this for quite some time. Though I hold the steering wheel in 10:10 (of a clock) position. Although, I read in some news article as they had recommended to hold the hands at 10:00 (of a clock) position. I know it also depends on the comfort of the driver to hold the steering wheel as it suits him/her better. But technically speaking, what is the right position to hold the steering wheel? Can the experts give a opinion. @ Mods: Thought this is the right sub-forum to open this thread. If this has to be moved to different sub-forum, pls do so.
	() Thanks