How much should the steering wheel generally turn?
2 Answers
Turning the steering wheel generally requires a 90-degree rotation. Correct hand position for steering: A full turn of the steering wheel is 360 degrees, and a quarter turn is 90 degrees. You can think of the steering wheel as a clock. The correct hand position is to place the left hand near the 9 o'clock position and the right hand near the 3 o'clock position. To turn 90 degrees, rotate the wheel a full turn and then an additional quarter turn. Steering techniques: Beginners practicing steering don't need to worry about the exact degrees of rotation. Just follow the principle of 'turn as much as you need to return, turn less for less return, turn slowly for slow return, turn more for more return, and turn quickly for quick return.' As for how much to turn, you can judge by the steering wheel markings or simply adjust based on the direction of the car's front and body.
There's no fixed standard answer to this question. After driving for twenty years, I feel it entirely depends on the actual situation. Making a U-turn on a narrow road might require turning the steering wheel to full lock, close to half a turn or more; for smooth turns like highway exit roundabouts, just moving it thirty or forty degrees may suffice. The key is to leave some margin for easy adjustments at any time, especially when turning in rain or snow—slow down in advance and turn the wheel less for more stability. A common mistake beginners make is gripping the steering wheel too tightly during turns; actually, holding both sides lightly and letting it turn naturally with the speed is enough. I often remind my family to look further ahead when turning, and the steering will be just right.
