General Discussion

underpants

(196,587 posts) Sun Dec 6, 2015, 11:15 AM Dec 2015

When driving your hands should be at 8 and 4 (not 10 and 2) [View all]

This was news to me and many others yesterday at a driving course I had to take. Getting a speeding ticket off my record.

Why?
Airbags.

8 and 4 allows for the airbag to deploy without throwing your arms back and, according to the instructor, possibly breaking your thumbs.

This link is from 3 years ago but it was news to me.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2012/05/steering_wheel_science_aaa_say.html

BTW - as I had read in some reviews for this course - if you were wondering what happened to "Jack" from "Will & Grace...he's teaching driving classes now. Not the actor of course but about the closest thing to "Jack" you are going to find. He made the 8 hours bearable.

74 replies

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Highlight:

When driving your hands should be at 8 and 4 (not 10 and 2) [View all] underpants Dec 2015 OP

My husband took an MuseRider Dec 2015 #1

Also - 10 inches (a sheet of copy paper) between wheel and chest. underpants Dec 2015 #6

I learned that I had been using my side mirrors incorrectly all these many years. dixiegrrrrl Dec 2015 #13

Whaa? They aren't paint scrappers for the garage door???????????? HereSince1628 Dec 2015 #36

I don't like 8 - 4 MuseRider Dec 2015 #25

Sounds like my 2 mile trip home with our flat screen underpants Dec 2015 #34

LoL I had a few trips home from IKEA like that too! flygal Dec 2015 #68

They say the best used furniture is a mile down the highway from ikea (on the side of the road). Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2015 #72

I have to say that Sean Hayes, who played Jack on Wll & Grace is a constantly working actor and very Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #2

Thanks. I should have included his name. underpants Dec 2015 #4

I just feel compelled to point that out. But the steering wheel hand placement is very important and Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #55

Love that guy! Arugula Latte Dec 2015 #43

I keep one hand on at high noon. AngryAmish Dec 2015 #3

Ewwww. That doesn't sound good at all. nt MADem Dec 2015 #58

I enjoy my commute a lot. AngryAmish Dec 2015 #62

I guess you do.... nt MADem Dec 2015 #63

let's cut to the chase here Skittles Dec 2015 #67

Why not both? AngryAmish Dec 2015 #69

SCHEDULING ANGRYAMISH FOR ASS KICKING Skittles Dec 2015 #71

Makes sense liberal N proud Dec 2015 #5

Thanks for the info on why NV Whino Dec 2015 #7

I heard that years ago but I also found I have more trouble turning that way and hollysmom Dec 2015 #8

I'm all for them saying there's a proven... DuaneBidoux Dec 2015 #15

They had shifted it to 3 & 9 for a while. DuaneBidoux Dec 2015 #9

At least you learned something at traffic school tularetom Dec 2015 #10

Only 3 short 10 minute films but they were on....gulp...VHS underpants Dec 2015 #31

Yeah, I got a ticket a couple years ago for an illegal turn. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2015 #73

They had shifted it to 3 & 9 for a while. DuaneBidoux Dec 2015 #11

I've been trying 8-4 and it slows me down underpants Dec 2015 #32

For me it really varies. DuaneBidoux Dec 2015 #39

Which is where mine will stay. Lizzie Poppet Dec 2015 #47

Agreed. DuaneBidoux Dec 2015 #50

I just posted twice by accident. DuaneBidoux Dec 2015 #12

Don't try to post while driving. Buzz Clik Dec 2015 #16

I was trying to post before my morning coffee... DuaneBidoux Dec 2015 #21

Hands should be at 8&4 for proper posting underpants Dec 2015 #28

No. The proper position is 12 with the other hand holding your phone on speaker. Buzz Clik Dec 2015 #14

LOL underpants Dec 2015 #26

Ok darn, I thought you were supposed to use your knee libdem4life Dec 2015 #29

I had my hands at 10 and 2 during an airbag deployment. Codeine Dec 2015 #17

Same here. kiva Dec 2015 #38

Also, Mythbusters tested this. The airbag Codeine Dec 2015 #18

Well then there's that underpants Dec 2015 #30

I'm only 5 feet tall Le Taz Hot Dec 2015 #19

Same with my wife. Codeine Dec 2015 #22

You could pull the fuse. I'm at the other end of the spectrum, overly tall and it's what I do (talle MillennialDem Dec 2015 #23

Another danger -- this may be a New Jersey thing... Hoppy Dec 2015 #20

I've always driven that way IDemo Dec 2015 #24

I took out my airbags and interior cabin Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #27

I'll be on the lookout for you underpants Dec 2015 #33

Airbags don't matter when every trip Codeine Dec 2015 #45

Left thumb hooked over the wheel spoke on the left side of the wheel, House of Roberts Dec 2015 #35

Another good way to break your thumbs. bluedigger Dec 2015 #48

I learned to stay ON the road. House of Roberts Dec 2015 #57

Just going off the beaten path, not racing. bluedigger Dec 2015 #66

I'm a 9:30 and 2:30 kind of guy madokie Dec 2015 #37

My kids were taught this and that "shuffling" turning method. Arugula Latte Dec 2015 #40

I was never any good at either technique for the most part. Codeine Dec 2015 #46

No airbags in a 442. Throd Dec 2015 #41

My man! Blue_Tires Dec 2015 #64

Using your knee is safest while texting. DuaneBidoux Dec 2015 #42

I usually drive with the left hand at 7. ileus Dec 2015 #44

I think that's bad advice. DirkGently Dec 2015 #49

Good info...nt Mosby Dec 2015 #54

yep been that way for years, good you Duckhunter935 Dec 2015 #51

What about 2 and 8? What if I drive with my knees? still_one Dec 2015 #52

My kid learned that from driver's ed recently. Doesn't matter to me as I steer with my knees. Brickbat Dec 2015 #53

Kinda.awkward Liberal_in_LA Dec 2015 #56

This will all be moot when I get my XBox controller Codeine Dec 2015 #59

I've heard one hand on the bong and one hand on the cell phone. lovemydog Dec 2015 #60

As long as one hand isn't at 4:20. nt U4ikLefty Dec 2015 #61

i'm a 6 driver... lame54 Dec 2015 #65

I steer with just one hand like a tough guy, the left all the way on top Reter Dec 2015 #70

Anyone that drives an emergency vehicle is taught 9 and 3, airbags or not. kentauros Dec 2015 #74