Why do people drive with both hands on the steering wheel?

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: Eli
?????

C'mon, have you even driven a power steering equipped car? I never really knew that the power steering was shut off at speed, but it makes sense.

AFAIK, power steering was more or less invented to make it easier to steer in parkinglot type situations, not because it gives you better control at 100MPH...

No, I've never driven a power steering equipped car :roll:

I know for fact that statement is false. It may be that all cars will modulate the power steering so you have less, but find a Taurus with a flaky TR sensor and you'll find out damned quick just how much power steering is left at 80 miles an hour.

Aside from that, why do you think a few years ago advertisers flaunted there speed sensitive power steering on their sport line of cars?

Oops, sacrasm meter isn't working...

 

[DougK62]

Two hands = better control. It'd take a dumbass to think otherwise.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: Eli
?????

C'mon, have you even driven a power steering equipped car? I never really knew that the power steering was shut off at speed, but it makes sense.

AFAIK, power steering was more or less invented to make it easier to steer in parkinglot type situations, not because it gives you better control at 100MPH...

No, I've never driven a power steering equipped car :roll:

I know for fact that statement is false. It may be that all cars will modulate the power steering so you have less, but find a Taurus with a flaky TR sensor and you'll find out damned quick just how much power steering is left at 80 miles an hour.

Aside from that, why do you think a few years ago advertisers flaunted there speed sensitive power steering on their sport line of cars?

What year was your RX-7?

You must not drive much because I would estimate that 90-95% of cars sold in the US have power steering.

Mine didnt. I believe it was an 82, its been a while. It didnt have power steering. Was fine long as you were moving, but if the car was parked yes I need 2 hands to turn the sucker.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: Eli
?????

C'mon, have you even driven a power steering equipped car? I never really knew that the power steering was shut off at speed, but it makes sense.

AFAIK, power steering was more or less invented to make it easier to steer in parkinglot type situations, not because it gives you better control at 100MPH...

No, I've never driven a power steering equipped car :roll:

I know for fact that statement is false. It may be that all cars will modulate the power steering so you have less, but find a Taurus with a flaky TR sensor and you'll find out damned quick just how much power steering is left at 80 miles an hour.

Aside from that, why do you think a few years ago advertisers flaunted there speed sensitive power steering on their sport line of cars?

Oops, sacrasm meter isn't working...

*tap tap*.......
Oh, there it is

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: DougK62
Two hands = better control. It'd take a dumbass to think otherwise.

I'll concede this much. I've never driven with 2 hands. You may very well have better overall control with it, but my entire life has been 1 handed driving and for me I wouldnt switch back becuase every time I do try 2 hands I always overcompensate.
As I've stated MANY times... FOR ME 1 hand > 2 hand

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm not trying to say that driving with one hand on the wheel is bad. I do it quite a bit myself. I'm just saying that driving with both hands on the wheel is better and it does give you more control of the car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: DougK62
Two hands = better control. It'd take a dumbass to think otherwise.

I'll concede this much. I've never driven with 2 hands. You may very well have better overall control with it, but my entire life has been 1 handed driving and for me I wouldnt switch back becuase every time I do try 2 hands I always overcompensate.
As I've stated MANY times... FOR ME 1 hand > 2 hand

Sounds like you may have developed some bad driving habits!

 

[BladeWalker]

Originally posted by: Ilmater
The proper position is 10 and 2, and there's nothing wrong with it. It keeps the morons from jerking their wheel in case of an emergency.

Agreed. For maximum control both hands are required. From what I've seen, most one-handed drivers immediately switch to two hands (natural reaction) when confronted with bumpy roads or steep curves. While the OP may be a skilled one-handed driver, he would be an idiot to suggest his method over the proper safe method.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I'm not trying to say that driving with one hand on the wheel is bad. I do it quite a bit myself. I'm just saying that driving with both hands on the wheel is better and it does give you more control of the car.

I wont argue that point in regards to "the masses", as I havent done much 2 handed driving. Again, as I've said, for me 1 hand is the way to go.

As a side, the day it proved the point to me was when I hydroplaned. Was driving back home, young dumb and full of cum, haulin ass in the rain. Driving a Pontaic... Looked like the old style Grand Am's. Cant think of it. FWD car. Anyways, cruisin about 75 in the rain on the interstate, and the ass end started to hydroplane and floated. Well, like an idiot (Used to RWD cars) I left off the gas, like your supposed to do in a RWD car (This is also why I now HATE FWD cars) and what happens? The front dips and starts to slow down, the ass being that its floating tries to pass me. Immediately went to 1 hand open palm on the wheel. It took alot of concentration, but with little finesse moves to kept the front end going straight while looking sideways and seeing the rear trying to pass me. I fully feel if I had used both hands I would have overcorrected and made a hell of a mess on the interstate. As it was, I figure I hydroplaned a good 50 yards before the car slowed down enough that the ass settled back down.
It taught me 2 things, I have the best finesse with 1 hand as I dont overcorrect or try to correct 2 quickly and not to drive like a bat out of hell in the rain!

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: DougK62
Two hands = better control. It'd take a dumbass to think otherwise.

I'll concede this much. I've never driven with 2 hands. You may very well have better overall control with it, but my entire life has been 1 handed driving and for me I wouldnt switch back becuase every time I do try 2 hands I always overcompensate.
As I've stated MANY times... FOR ME 1 hand > 2 hand

Sounds like you may have developed some bad driving habits!

Me?! Nevar!

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: Nohr
I don't see any race or stunt drivers using one hand, but they probably don't know wtf they're doing...

LOL :beer:

 

[FacelessNobody]

One hand at 12 o'clock isn't smart in a car with an airbag. You stand a good chance of punching yourself in the face in a collision!

Zenmervolt is right: they do tell you to keep both hands on the wheel. You don't have to hold on to the wheel with both hands to turn it though, yes, you can alternate (like hand-over-hand)! Your hands can actually move freely! (Who woulda thunk it?)

The proven 'proper' position is hands at 10 and 2 gripping the wheel diagonally across your palm for a stronger grip, relaxed arms letting gravity pull both of your elbows down (but not too much, don't be a rag doll). Head up, eyes looking down the road (not just at the car in front of you, unless it's all you can see at the time) and scanning, don't stare. Keep your hand off the shifter unless you intend to use it, and keep your foot off the damn clutch pedal unless you're going to use it.

Think driving like that sucks? Tell Schuey, Zanardi, McRae, Gordon, Walter Rohrl (Porsche lead test driver), or any racer that they're doing it wrong.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: bmacd
i don't have hands, so i use my knees to drive.

-=bmacd=-

I don't have any hands or knees. But i was blessed with a really big member that can steer for me!

 

[BladeWalker]

Shockwave, if you were a pro waterskier who's able to do somersaults, flips, and spins all done one-handed because it allows more freedom, would you recommend beginners to start one-handed as well? Certainly there is more skill and strength involved one-handed, but is it safer?

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: BladeWalker
Shockwave, if you were a pro waterskier who's able to do somersaults, flips, and spins all done one-handed because it allows more freedom, would you recommend beginners to start one-handed as well? Certainly there is more skill and strength involved one-handed, but is it safer?

Nope, I'm also not saying its for everyone. I'm simply saying blanket statements dont work here. With the experiences I have, one hand is better. In fact, I wish I could go try these driving courses. It really would cement it for me whether I did better 1 or 2 handed, as I could run once 1 handed and run once 2 handed, and compare the results.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: BladeWalker
Shockwave, if you were a pro waterskier who's able to do somersaults, flips, and spins all done one-handed because it allows more freedom, would you recommend beginners to start one-handed as well? Certainly there is more skill and strength involved one-handed, but is it safer?

Nope, I'm also not saying its for everyone. I'm simply saying blanket statements dont work here. With the experiences I have, one hand is better. In fact, I wish I could go try these driving courses. It really would cement it for me whether I did better 1 or 2 handed, as I could run once 1 handed and run once 2 handed, and compare the results.

I doubt they'd even let you run one-handed, as you'd almost certainly lose control and go into a slide after a succession of quick, sharp turns. However, you'd be welcome to try. Just don't do it more than once; they tend to make you sit out the rest of the course if you lose control more than three or four times.

 

[Electric Amish]

It's probably been addressed but, try turning left with just your right hand on the wheel or right with just your left hand....

 

[Red]

I drive 1-handed 90% of the time. I do mostly highway driving, but even in the "city" (not inner-city Cincinnati, just the suburbs) I use one hand. I've switched to two hands when I scan for a possible dangerous situation, or anytime I've need to put my brakes on quickly, park, etc. But during regular driving, it's one hand for me personally. I am left handed/ambidextrous... in summer I normally drive with my right hand so I can rest my left elbow on the window frame and flick the turn signal when needed. In winter I typically drive left handed so I can rest my right arm on the center console. And yes, my highway driving is almost entirely 6'o clock with the thumb, or my palm laying flat on the inside of the steering wheel.

 

[ucdbiendog]

well, now that i drive a stick i drive wit one hand. ill use two when im in a curve and i am going faster than i should be though

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: Dari
Unless you ambi-dexterous (sic?), it's very dangerous to drive with both hands. It can be hard to coordinate both hands to do what you want. Things can get more dicey if the situation is critical, forcing you to think fast. I like to drive with my right-hand (I'm right-handed) on the 12:00 position of the steering wheel. Driving at 9 and 3 is dangerous IMHO.

I drive with my feet occasionally because it has better grips then my hands
:roll:

 

[pmoa]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: Dari
Unless you ambi-dexterous (sic?), it's very dangerous to drive with both hands. It can be hard to coordinate both hands to do what you want. Things can get more dicey if the situation is critical, forcing you to think fast. I like to drive with my right-hand (I'm right-handed) on the 12:00 position of the steering wheel. Driving at 9 and 3 is dangerous IMHO.

You're so manly its incredible.

pwned

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Shockwave
Also, its harder to initiate a turn to lock situation with 2 hands then 1, as with one you can instantly slide into a open palm and spin the wheel around whereas with 2 hands you need to remove 1 hand, or you can go about 90 degrtees MAX before your arms are crossed and you cant turn it anymore.

Don't they teach you the hand-over-hand technique in KS? You fail your test in NJ if you don't know how to do it.

BTW, are you a professional driver?

Regardless, I stand by my original claim that someone who lacks the coordination to operate both hands at the same time probably shouldn't be driving.

I actually dont know. I recieved my license in Ne and Mo, havent transffered to Kansas yet. And yes, you fail if you dont use 2 hands. Am I a professional? No, but considering I've driven out 3 cars, used to drive grain truck, tractor, farm vehicles, sports cars in the city and backyard racing I'll say I'm an experienced driver.

I'll also agree, someone who lacks coordination. I guess my point was a blanket statement like "Everyone controls it better with 2 hands" seems a bit generalized to me. In an emergency situation, I myself prefer 1 hand as it makes small dleicate corrections MUCh easier for me, and also allows me to quickly change out to open palm for fast wide ranging corrections.

Generalized statement? Heck yeah... cause it's friggin true. Do you see Michael friggin Schumacher drive with one hand? Do you see Petter Solberg drive with one hand?? Do you even see your common stunt driver with one hand?

The very FIRST rule of car control every autocross/motorsports instructor tells you is both hands on the wheel. 9 & 3, end of discussion. I DARE you to try to drive an autocross course with one hand. It doesn't matter if you're friggin Brock Lesnar... you just can't control the car at/beyond the limit without both hands.

Try to drive with an open palm and I guarantee that steering wheel will turn whichever way it feels when the car snaps into a spin. Experienced driver... haha... that doesn't mean jacksquat. If you really are a truly skilled driver, you wouldn't even doubt 2 hands.

EDIT: wanted to add that pretty much 9/10 people I see drive are in the wrong seating position for proper car control. And yes, 9 & 3 o'clock positions for the hands is optimal. You can either crossover your hands or shuffle them to always maintain one hand on the wheel at all times.

Honestly... is this thread a joke??

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: Shockwave
I fully feel if I had used both hands I would have overcorrected and made a hell of a mess on the interstate. [snip] It taught me 2 things, I have the best finesse with 1 hand as I dont overcorrect or try to correct 2 quickly and not to drive like a bat out of hell in the rain!

Sounds like you've allowed your opinions to overtake your better judgement. I'd bet for every one situation like this that you "felt" that you were better that there are ten situations that would have caused you to lose control.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
I hate driving with 2 hands as well. I am usually just left hand near the top, and the right hand on the shifter.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: Shockwave
I fully feel if I had used both hands I would have overcorrected and made a hell of a mess on the interstate. [snip] It taught me 2 things, I have the best finesse with 1 hand as I dont overcorrect or try to correct 2 quickly and not to drive like a bat out of hell in the rain!

Sounds like you've allowed your opinions to overtake your better judgement. I'd bet for every one situation like this that you "felt" that you were better that there are ten situations that would have caused you to lose control.

Yeah, but in every situation I've been in, 1 handed has worked perfectly fine to get me out of it.... So, I'm either REALLY freaking lucky or REALLY freakin good, as I've never had one of those ten situations, but rather always had that one.