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What are the ideal hand positions for driving a car?
I used to hear that my hands should be at 10 and 2 on a steering wheel. Now I hear 9 and 3, and I’m not even sure if I know what that means. Where should I hold the steering wheel when I’m driving my car?
Pat Roache · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re not wrong—the NHTSA recently changed its recommendation from the 10 and 2 hand positions to the 9 and 3 hand positions. Using the correct hand positions is a great way to improve your
driving safety
. Follow these steps to find the 9 and 3 hand positions on your steering wheel:- Pretend your steering wheel is a clock
- Identify where 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock would be on your new steering wheel clock
- Gently but firmly place your hands on these positions, gripping around the wheel with your thumbs facing you
Once you’re done, you’ve successfully identified the ideal hand positions for holding your steering wheel! The 9 and 3 hand positions offer the most control for your vehicle while limiting any risk of injury from the airbag. You can use these positions while turning by moving one hand over the other.
Keeping your hands at the 9 and 3 positions helps you be a safer driver, which could get you
discounts on your car insurance
. Find even more discounts and savings with Jerry
, the car insurance super app. The average user saves $887 a year Jerry even sets up your new insurance policy so you don’t have to do any of the heavy lifting.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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