Steering and vehicle control — California Permit Test

To control your vehicle, keep both hands on the wheel whenever possible.

One hand can hold a straight line. Two hands are what save you when the line stops being straight.

To control your vehicle, it is critical to keep both hands on the wheel whenever possible.

For hand-to-hand steering, start with your hands at 9 and 3 o’clock or 8 and 4 o’clock and keep them there, even through turns.

Hands low on the wheel keep your arms clear of an air bag that opens in a fraction of a second.

Start with your hands at 9 and 3 o’clock or 8 and 4 o’clock.

Do not cross your hands over the middle of the steering wheel when using hand-to-hand steering.

Crossed arms cannot correct a skid, because there is nowhere left for them to turn.

Do not cross your hands over the middle of the steering wheel.

Hand-over-hand steering is used when you turn at low speeds, park, or need to recover from a skid.

Those are the moments the wheel has to travel a long way in very little time.

Use this steering wheel method when you turn at low speeds, park, or need to recover from a skid.

Only two situations may require steering with one hand: turning while backing up, and operating a control that needs a hand off the wheel.

Both are short jobs. Everything else in the car is done with two hands on the wheel.

There are only two situations that may require steering with one hand:

When you turn while backing up so you can see behind you, place your hand at the 12 o’clock position on the steering wheel.

Your body is twisted round to look back, and that grip is the one that still steers straight.

When you are turning while backing up to see where you are going behind you.

How many hands should be on the wheel whenever possible?

Both hands. One hand can hold a straight line. Two hands are what save you when the line stops being straight. California Driver’s Handbook, p.9: “To control your vehicle, it is critical to keep both hands on the wheel whenever possible.”