Steering hand position and methods — Tennessee Permit Test

Always drive with both hands on the wheel, using a firm but relaxed grip.

With one hand on the wheel, a sudden swerve or a blown tire can pull the car out of your control.

To begin driving the vehicle, use a relaxed grip on the steering wheel and always drive with BOTH hands on the wheel.

Do not drive with your elbow or arm propped on the door or out the window.

You will not have full control of the wheel, and a car that sideswipes you could take off your arm.

Don’t develop the habit of driving with your elbow or arm propped on the door or out the window.

You steer with your eyes as well as your hands: always look where you want to go.

Stare at the ditch and your hands drift toward the ditch. Look at your path and they follow it.

You not only steer with your hands, but also with your eyes!

Place your left hand at 9 o'clock and your right hand at 3 o'clock on the steering wheel.

Hands at the top of the wheel get thrown into your face when the air bag goes off.

Looking at the steering wheel as a clock face, drivers should place the left hand at the 9 o’clock position and the right hand at 3 o’clock position on the steering wheel.

The 9 and 3 hand position helps avoid injury from the air bag in a crash.

An air bag fires straight out of the wheel's center, so hands across the middle get hit hard.

This position helps avoid injury from air bag deployment during an accident.

Do not let the steering wheel slip through your fingers when turning; turn it back yourself coming out of the turn.

A wheel spinning back on its own can over-correct and send you across the center line.

Do not let the steering wheel slip through your fingers when turning/steering.

Do not cross your arms when steering; crossing wrists is OK.

Crossed arms can catch on clothing or jewelry, and an air bag hitting crossed arms hurts you more.

Do not cross your arms when steering or turning.

The push-pull steering method is recommended because it gives smoother, safer turns and keeps both hands on the wheel.

Hand-over-hand leaves moments with only one hand on the wheel, and push-pull never does.

The Push-Pull method is recommended because it slows down turning movements making for a smoother, safer turn.

Hand-over-hand steering crosses the hands at the top of the wheel, so keep your speed down when you use it.

This method turns the wheel fast but leaves one hand off at times, which is risky at speed.

When turning the vehicle with this method, be careful to keep speed down.

How many hands should you keep on the steering wheel while driving?

Both hands, at all times. With one hand on the wheel, a sudden swerve or a blown tire can pull the car out of your control. Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.28: “To begin driving the vehicle, use a relaxed grip on the steering wheel and always drive with BOTH hands on the wheel.”