# Hand Position **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284 "2001-01-22T17:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Delila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Delila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delila)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284/1 "2001-01-22T17:16:46Z")
In the old days the Drivers Manual said to position your hands at 10:00 and 3:00. Has anything changed since airbags have been developed? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284/2 "2001-01-22T17:22:33Z")
Yep. The AAA is recommending 3 and 9 so that your forearms don’t get slammed against your chest, taking your hands off the wheel and possibly punching you in the face. ---
**Author:** ![TwoBuyFour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/76d3ee/32.png) [@TwoBuyFour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoBuyFour)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284/3 "2001-01-22T17:31:41Z")
What is AAA’s position on left wrist at 12 o’clock, w/ hand dangling between dash & wheel, body slouched to the right with right hand on stick? That’s the way cool people drive. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284/4 "2001-01-22T17:34:48Z")
I have also read that it is now recommended to keep your thumbs on the outside of the wheel lest the be damaged by the airbag. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284/5 "2001-01-23T00:46:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by puddleglum \* > \*\*I have also read that it is now recommended to keep your thumbs on the outside of the wheel lest the be damaged by the airbag. \*\* I’ve alway done that, but not for that reason. (I make an effort to only drive older, “unsafe” cars :D) The reason I was taught to keep the thumbs on the outside is in case one (road)wheel drops unexpectedly, and snaps the steering wheel to one side. Not a big thing on well-maintained roads, but if you’re out in the woods on a logging “trail” in a Jeep (like I was), it could break your thumbs. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284/6 "2001-01-23T05:48:42Z")
Wait a minute…10:00 and **3:00**??? When I learned to drive it was 10:00 and 2:00 - and that was only 3 1/2 years ago! Perhaps the rules have changed with airbags, but 10 and 3 just seems odd… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284/7 "2001-01-23T05:57:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mnemosyne \* > Wait a minute…10:00 and **3:00**??? When I learned to drive it was 10:00 and 2:00 - and that was only 3 1/2 years ago! Perhaps the rules have changed with airbags, but 10 and 3 just seems odd… Yeh, I think the OP is mitaken; I’ve always learned the old rule was 10 and 2, and the new one is 9 and 3. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-position/51284/8 "2001-01-23T07:03:43Z")
I usually use just 6, though I switch to 10 and 2 if I am doing something that requires precise maneuvering.