Which direction should the steering wheel be turned when making a turn?
4 Answers
There are three main situations when turning the steering wheel. The first is for sharp turns or when quick steering is needed, the second is for gentle turns, and the third is for reversing. The specific methods are as follows: For sharp turns: First, visualize the steering wheel as a clock, with 12 o'clock at the top center and 6 o'clock at the bottom center. When turning the steering wheel, whether using the left or right hand, always grip near the 12 o'clock position. For gentle turns: Keep both hands on the steering wheel without crossing them. The left hand should be on the left side between 12 and 6 o'clock, and the right hand on the right side. Second, both hands should remain parallel—moving up or down together. Third, as one hand grips the wheel and turns it downward or upward, the other hand should slide along the outer edge of the wheel in the same direction. When reversing: When turning the steering wheel to the left, grip it with the left hand and turn it to around 7 o'clock. Use the wrist to brace against the wheel, then straighten the fingers and rotate the hand 180 degrees to the right (while continuing to turn the wheel left with the wrist). Then, grip the wheel again and continue turning left. For turning right, reverse the hand movement.
From my driving experience, the direction you turn the steering wheel depends on which way you're turning. If you want to make a left turn, you need to slowly turn the steering wheel to the left, rotating it counterclockwise; for a right turn, turn it to the right, rotating it clockwise. Don't underestimate this small action—the steering wheel controls the direction of the front wheels. Turn left, and the front wheels point left, making the car follow the curve. For sharp turns, you'll need to turn the wheel more, about one or two full rotations; for gentle curves, turn it less. When turning on the highway, I always remind myself not to turn too sharply, as the car can easily lose control and skid. New drivers sometimes panic and turn the wheel the wrong way, which can be quite dangerous. That's why I recommend practicing several times in a safe area to master speed control during turns—operating at lower speeds is easier and safer.
As someone who loves tinkering with cars, I find steering wheel turns to be the essence of driving pleasure. Want to turn left? Turn the steering wheel left. Want to turn right? Turn it right. Simple, right? But in actual operation, a vehicle's steering response varies by model: sports cars are agile, requiring just a slight turn of the wheel, while SUVs feel heavier and need more rotations. I also enjoy testing different road surfaces—on slippery roads, turns should be more gradual, as the steering direction directly affects tire grip, otherwise the car might drift out of control. Remember, coordinating throttle and brake balance ensures smooth handling when steering in the right direction.
I just learned to drive not long ago and was quite confused about turning at first. My instructor told me to turn the steering wheel left for a left turn and right for a right turn—it sounds simple, but I felt nervous when actually doing it. The first time I turned, I oversteered, causing the car to turn too sharply and almost scrape the curb. Luckily, I remembered to slow down before turning, look in the direction I wanted to go, and turn the steering wheel gradually. For a small curve, turn the wheel slightly; for a big curve, turn it more. Now when I drive, I always remind myself—the steering wheel should follow my line of sight: turn left for a left turn and right for a right turn. This keeps the car steady and safe.
