You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA 756
antdude writes "This MSNBC Bottom Line story/article says that 'If you're a conscientious motorist who still does everything the way your driver's-ed instructor told you to, you're doing it all wrong. For decades, the standard instruction was that drivers should hold the steering wheel at the 10 and 2 positions, as envisioned on a clock. This, it turns out, is no longer the case. In fact, driving that way could cost you your arms or hands in particularly gruesome ways if your airbag deploys. Instead AAA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and many driving instructors now say you should grip the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock. A few go even further, suggesting 8 and 4 to avoid the airbag mechanism as much as possible, but what formal research has been published on the varieties of hand positions suggests that this may lessen your control of the car.'" I usually hold even lower on the wheel, perhaps 4:30 and 7:30, but I also drive with my seat pushed farther forward than most people like. Drivers, what's your approach?
One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
... like a boss.
"Drivers, what's your approach?" (Score:5, Funny)
I let my wife drive. I need my hands to hold my beer.
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
Proper position (Score:5, Funny)
Left elbow out the window, steering wheel held by hanging thumb on steering wheel spoke. Right hand either: manipulating some text messaging device, hanging over back of bench seat or trying to slip up the skirt of some babe sitting next to me.
Front seat passengers should place feet up on the dashboard immediately on top of passenger airbag deployment panel to ensure major foot/leg injuries in the event of deployment.
What is this 'clock' you are speaking of? (Score:5, Funny)
My clocks have numbers, not hands.
Re: 8 and 4 (Score:5, Funny)
That would be quite uncomfortable in a right-hand drive car, so instead I have a 3ish position.
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
I drive with one hand at 12 o'clock, and the other holding a cup of coffee! Oh, my car doesn't have airbags. Or ABS. Or a million other safety items.
When something happens, I'll be in a giant flaming ball of fire, so I'll have other things to worry about.
Lose the airbags (Score:5, Funny)
My friend says that everyone would drive a whole lot more safely if there was a huge, sharp metal spike on the steering wheel that was pointed toward the driver's chest. I think he might be right.
Re:Non-sense! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
The chauffeur sits in the front and drives whatever way he wants.
Re:I have.. (Score:5, Funny)
No hands (Score:4, Funny)
Drive with your knees. It keeps your hands free for the important things like texting and eating.
Carlin ... (Score:5, Funny)
Now, a few basic points about driving. One of the first things they teach you in Driver's Ed is where to put your hands on the steering wheel. They tell you put 'em at ten o'clock and two o'clock. Never mind that. I put mine at 9:45 and 2:17. Gives me an extra half hour to get where I'm goin'.
-George Carlin
It doesn't matter where I grip the wheel (Score:5, Funny)
Stupid units (Score:5, Funny)
What is with you Americans having to use these stupid units for everything? Is it that hard to say pi/6 and 5*pi/6 that everyone can understand?
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:4, Funny)
I was driving like that when I got in to an accident. The air bag threw my hand up into the windshield hard enough for it to punch a hole in the windshield. Fortunately, there wasn't too much damage to my hand, but a decade later, the scar on the back of my hand is still evident. I no longer drive with a hand at the 12:00 position. It's 3:00 and 9:00 for me.
You're not impressing anyone here with your made up stories of superhuman feats of strength.
Braggart.
George Carlin (Score:4, Funny)
I always liked George Carlin's advice:
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
Not bad, but I prefer to use one hand at 6 o'clock. I sometimes worry that it might lessen my control of the car a bit when compared to the classic 10 and 2, but it's the only position comfortable enough for a quick nap.
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
When something happens, I'll be in a giant flaming ball of fire, so I'll have other things to worry about.
Are you driving the last Pinto?
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Stupid units (Score:5, Funny)
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
He transports nuclear warheads.
Re:Stupid units (Score:5, Funny)
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:2, Funny)
That has never felt safe to me.
I prefer to lock all my doors.
It's the only way to live.
People in my area go even further... (Score:5, Funny)
For example, last week someone in the right hand lane attempted to make a left-handed U-turn while I was driving past them in the left hand lane. They were on their way to buy cigarettes - had they hit me (as they quite nearly did) I would have spared them dying of lung cancer and bludgeoned them to death in the road.
Re:One hand, 6 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
I drive the same way! I've already had children, so I don't really care about what happens when the airbag goes off.
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
I guy in Brazil got pulled over because he had one on the wheel and one around his hot Brazilian woman.
The cop tells him "Sir, don't you think you should be using both hands?"
The driver says "certainly, but who would drive the car?!"
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
Are you driving the last Pinto?
Sign seen on Pinto hatchback: Close cover before striking.
Re:"Drivers, what's your approach?" (Score:5, Funny)
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Proper position (Score:5, Funny)
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
I tried the 10 and 2 positioning once, but I couldn't get my knees that high.
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
Well, here in the America, (you know, where the present and future are) we live large and thus dangerously. If you seen the size of the vehicles and the traffic here, you would understand. You would probably want more bags placed all around you, and you wouldn't care if they hurt you a little if they went off wrong. But instead, you would not want to live here, you would go home where things are nice and safe.
We are born and bred to this madness; to us, it's mother's milk.
So, my fine feathered friend, if you come to America, leave the pop-can with wheels at home. It may sip gas from a tea cup and be very practical there, but here with it, when you are screaming down an Interstate that goes through or around an major US city, at rush hour, doing 85 MPH to keep up with traffic, which at the moment are all semi-trucks that have you sewn in from all sides, front and back, you will need to clean the driver's seat when you pull over. If you come to America, drive an American car, made by Americans for American drivers and roads.
It will make sense, trust me.
(Or just make sure it's a convertible, embrace the madness, laugh and drive like a madman in the wind.)
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:5, Funny)
He transports nuclear warheads IN A PINTO.
Re:One hand, 12 o'clock ... (Score:2, Funny)
I didn't know they even made cars with short sleeves.