# How do you grip the steering wheel? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082 "2020-06-25T23:12:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/21 "2020-06-26T19:06:13Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > That is precisely what I do - usually just my wrist hanging over the top YES! forgot about the limp wrist thing. It’s not really the official pose unless you do it like that. > [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > My last car was my equally, if not more, beloved 2007 V6 Mustang and I was accused quite often of utilizing the “Gangsta Lean” while cruising down the road. That and “Scrubs” are what simultaneously run through my head when I see it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/22 "2020-06-26T20:14:14Z")
The airbag isn’t an issue if, like race car drivers, you let go of the wheel before the collision. In any event my 2014 Civic was designed for 10 & 2, and that is the most comfortable position for me anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/23 "2020-06-26T20:18:04Z")
At the bottom, with my prehensile penis. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/24 "2020-06-26T20:22:16Z")
My car, a 2019 MX-5 Miata, has a thicker portions at 10 and 2, which makes it more comfortable to hold it there. So my hand’s are pretty much at 10 and 2, except for when my right hand is on the gearshift. I wonder if there’s a correlation between hand position and the types of cars people drive, ie. sporty cars versus luxurious cars with very low effort power steering. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/25 "2020-06-26T20:33:25Z")
OK, real answer: 10 and 2, or 9 and 3, or 5, or 6, or 12, or 11… It depends on whatever is comfortable at the time. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/26 "2020-06-26T21:40:01Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > At the bottom, with my prehensile penis. 10, 2 and dick is called the “Dr. Pepper.” ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/27 "2020-06-26T23:00:22Z")
When I’m cruising down the highway, left hand at 12, either gripping the wheel or resting my wrist on top of it. On a long stretch of a couple of hours or more I’ll move my hand down to 6 occasionally. The rest of the time, driving through town or freeway interchanges, its both hands usually somewhere in the vicinity of 9 and 10 / 2 and 3. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/28 "2020-06-26T23:32:58Z")
Way back in the dinosaur days while I was in high school, the driver ed class recommended the “10 and 2” position for the hands on the wheel. Immediately after getting my license, I switched to the “9 and 3” position as I found that works well for me. The only time I have not done that was the sole road test I’ve had to take since that time. During that test, I reverted back to the “10 and 2” position. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/29 "2020-06-27T08:41:56Z")
I grip my steering wheel with a vengeance. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/30 "2020-06-27T13:59:02Z")
My Wife’s Subaru Ascent has a heated steering wheel. At the 10 and 2 position. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/31 "2020-06-27T14:23:15Z")
My first car had a steering wheel that was occasionally heated. Like when the top was stowed and it was daytime in the Mojave Desert in Summer. Fingertip driving for a bit. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/32 "2020-06-27T14:27:30Z")
Pick any two numbers on a clock, I’ve had one or both hands on any of them, and occasionally none. But mostly right hand at 1:00, left arm against the window or over it when it’s down. On the highway it’s traditional 10 and 2. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/33 "2020-06-27T23:04:48Z")
9 and 3 now and slide the wheel through my hands. It took a while because I was taught 10 and 2 and cross over hands during a turn. The RCMP teach the drivers to use 9/3 and slide the wheel through your hands, which I’ve adopted. It makes control of the car much better when you’re driving “spiritedly”. I do have a manual so the right hand is often on the stick . ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/34 "2020-06-28T20:23:48Z")
10, 2, and 4, just like Dr. Pepper taught me. What? ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/35 "2020-06-28T20:28:25Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > 9 and 3 now and slide the wheel through my hands. It took a while because I was taught 10 and 2 and cross over hands during a turn. The RCMP teach the drivers to use 9/3 and slide the wheel through your hands, which I’ve adopted. It makes control of the car much better when you’re driving “spiritedly”. I do have a manual so the right hand is often on the stick . I was taught 10 and 2 in Driver’s Ed decades ago but now use 9 and 3. not sure why/when I changed. do you mean The Mounties think 9 and 3 is best? because cool, they have horses! ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/36 "2020-06-28T23:38:22Z")
10 and 2 since I learned to drive in 1966, a habit I never even thought about, until a few years ago when I dropped my arms to 9 and 3 because of airbags. Nowdays I still catch myself at 10 and 3, but not very often. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/37 "2020-06-28T23:48:39Z")
What enipla said. And because it seems least tiring and most comfortable on longer drives as it allows me to rest my arms on the arm rests. I have to actually concentrate on what I’m doing if steering right handed(like pulling up to a toll booth on a tollway with payment in hand) ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/38 "2020-06-29T01:40:58Z")
Sure but the grip for a horse is totes different…and involves your legs! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/39 "2020-06-29T02:31:54Z")
In good weather usually: a) Right hand around 2 or 3, left hand can’t reach the wheel because my elbow is out the window; or b) Left hand at 9, right hand holding my drink. In bad weather: Somewhere around 9 and 3, or 10 and 2. ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082/40 "2020-06-29T12:20:36Z")
I do all of the above. If I’m tired and stuck in traffic, I might hug the wheel and even put my chin on top of it. One thing I’ll never understand are those people who don’t touch the rim, or even the spokes, just place one palm behind the cross section. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-grip-the-steering-wheel/913082.md?page=3)