Steering grip and turns — Montana Permit Test

Hold the steering wheel with both hands on opposite sides, such as 9 and 3 o'clock, or 8 and 4 o'clock on newer vehicles with an airbag in the wheel.

Hands bunched at the top of the wheel give poor control, and an airbag going off can throw them into your face.

Both hands should be placed on opposite sides of the steering wheel (e.g., at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions or the 8 and 4 o’clock positions of newer vehicles equipped with airbags mounted in the steering wheel).

Look well down the road, not just in front of the vehicle, so you have time to steer smoothly before you reach a traffic situation.

A driver staring at the hood sees the stalled car only when it is too late to steer around it gently.

Look well down the road, not just at the road in front of your vehicle.

When turning corners, use the hand-over-hand technique; turning the wheel with the palm of one hand can make you lose control.

A wheel spun with one palm can slip away mid-turn, and the car runs wide into the other lane.

When turning corners, turn the steering wheel using the “hand-over-hand” technique; do not turn the wheel with just the palm of one hand or you could lose control.

When you complete a turn, straighten the steering wheel by hand; letting it slip through your fingers can be dangerous.

A wheel that spins back on its own can overshoot, and the car drifts toward the curb or the next lane.

When you complete a turn, straighten out the steering wheel by hand.

Where should your hands be placed on the steering wheel?

On opposite sides, at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4. Hands bunched at the top of the wheel give poor control, and an airbag going off can throw them into your face. Montana Driver Manual, p.50: “Both hands should be placed on opposite sides of the steering wheel (e.g., at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions or the 8 and 4 o’clock positions of newer vehicles equipped with airbags mounted in the steering wheel).”