How to Steer the Wheel When Learning to Drive?
3 Answers
Here are the methods for steering the wheel: 1. After getting into the car, adjust the seat and rearview mirror, and fasten the seat belt. Press the clutch pedal all the way down with one foot, leaving a slight bend in the knee. Hold the steering wheel with both hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions; 2. Return the wheel to the center after turning; 3. Keep your hand movements balanced to avoid unnecessary shaking; 4. Look straight ahead, lightly holding the upper left part of the steering wheel with your left hand; 5. Hold the upper part of the steering wheel lightly with your right hand and keep both hands relaxed, naturally hanging down; 6. The thumbs of both hands should naturally point to the upper part of the steering wheel, while the other four fingers should lightly grip from the outside to the inside.
When I first started learning to drive, my instructor always emphasized that steering wheel control is the core of driving. Remember two key points: grip and turning technique. Place both hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions on the steering wheel, with a natural bend like holding bicycle handlebars. When turning, never cross your hands - for a left turn, push with your right hand and receive with your left; for a right turn, push with your left and receive with your right. For straight-line driving, just make slight adjustments by gently rubbing your palms against the wheel surface. During reverse parking practice, I often forgot to straighten the wheel. The instructor said to mentally count the turns when steering - at most one and a half turns before returning to center. At the training ground, I specifically practiced one-handed steering techniques, pushing and rotating my palm during turns, but in actual driving, using both hands is still the safest approach.
The instructor teaches us to steer the wheel like teaching radio calisthenics, where movements must be precise. First, adjust the seat until your wrists can naturally rest on top of the steering wheel with elbows slightly bent. For turning left: push your right hand from the 3 o'clock position to 9 o'clock, while your left hand simultaneously slides down from 9 o'clock to the 6 o'clock position to take over. When straightening the wheel, follow its inertia to turn back—never force it. Pay special attention to scenarios like reversing and parallel parking, where the steering wheel often requires larger turns than expected. The most common mistake beginners make is looking down at the steering wheel while turning—this must be avoided at all costs. Before each practice, I silently recite the mantra: Eyes on the road, not the wheel; turn and return slowly.
