Driving position... | FerrariChat

Driving position...

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by quartermaster, Dec 3, 2005.

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  1. quartermaster

    quartermaster Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2005
    1,826
    My youngest just got his 'learner's permit'. I tell him to keep his hands at the '10 o'clock-2 o'clock' position. His driver training instructor tells him to place his hands at the BOTTOM of the wheel, where they are out of the way if the airbag is deployed. WTF?
    If that's the logic today, why have your hands on the wheel at all? Why not steer with your knees and keep your hands out of the way where they would be safe from that dangerous airbag?
    What is correct here? 10&2? or bottom of wheel?

    p.s. This has to be a repost, but I couldn't find anything. You have to have a womb to be able to find anything, in my experience.
     
  2. whart

    whart F1 Veteran
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    Dec 5, 2001
    6,570
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    9 and 3, particularly if the steering wheel has spokes that allow me to rest my thumbs at those points. I also reach a little lower, sort of a 3.25 and 8.40. I think 10/2 is old school, isn't it?
     
  3. quartermaster

    quartermaster Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2005
    1,826
    I'm only 55!
     
  4. mark328

    mark328 Guest

    Jul 30, 2005
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    10-2 is the way I learned way back, but I have been to defensive high speed driving schools and most of the instructors now perfer and teach the 9-3 position.
     
  5. Vang

    Vang Formula Junior

    May 5, 2004
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    Philadelphia
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    Dan
    10-2/9-3 is the way to go.
     
  6. Dcup

    Dcup F1 Veteran

    Jan 3, 2005
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    Claude Balls
    rip the damn airbag out, then 10 and 2 will be safe.....
     
  7. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    I usually have it at 9 and 12... but for most of the driving tests, they want you to have it at 9 and 3, at least in pa that is.
     
  8. usaf015

    usaf015 Karting

    Oct 28, 2005
    67
    I just got out of drivers ed about a year ago, they were still teaching 10&2 but 9&3 is pretty good too, whats up with htat kids instructor, is he on crack!?!? i drive with my hands on the bottom after driving on long trips for about 2 hours, thats just for comfort, you shouldnt drive at such a low point on the wheel because you have less control on the wheel....
     
  9. Dcup

    Dcup F1 Veteran

    Jan 3, 2005
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    Claude Balls
    who are you kidding, you keep at at 12 and 1 hand on your nuts.......
     
  10. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    you caught me...
     
  11. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    One finger on the wheel, one hand on the phone!
     
  12. Ferrari0324

    Ferrari0324 F1 Rookie

    Mar 20, 2004
    3,510
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    Brandon
    10 and 2, or 9 and 3. Really I find no major difference, just for comfort. I have heard before what the instructor is talking about but that is wrong. First off, if you're about to be in a car accident you want as much control over the car as you can have, impossible with your hands on the bottom. Breaking your thumbs may be a small price to pay to having some control of what happens. If you don't have control you can end up in worse shape.

    Plus you are more likely to get into an accident with your hands on the bottom then at 10 and 2. Stupid teacher
     
  13. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    That would be defining a different "Drive" now wouldn't it?
     
  14. CMY

    CMY F1 World Champ

    Oct 15, 2004
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    Chris
    That's the standard driving position for the 405
     
  15. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    Where gas pedals go to die.......................
     
  16. CMY

    CMY F1 World Champ

    Oct 15, 2004
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    Hey, at least you find out the limits of your automobile.. my cruise control does in fact work under 15mph!
     
  17. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

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    ...how do you guys hold your beer?
     
  18. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    In the cellphone hand.
     
  19. Alex_V

    Alex_V F1 Rookie
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    Apr 8, 2004
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    I hold the bottom of the wheel with one hand and usually have my iPod in the other.
     
  20. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 11, 2004
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    I usually drive with one hand at 9:07am and the other at 3:16pm
     
  21. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Make sure that you sit close enough to the wheel to bend your wrists behind it.
     
  22. sixcarbs

    sixcarbs F1 World Champ
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    Dec 19, 2004
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    I prefer left hand at 12 and right arm stright across the top of passenger seat, with right hand hanging down. Brooklyn style.
     
  23. gbrown37

    gbrown37 Formula 3

    Feb 15, 2005
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    right hand at 6. occasionally left hand on the phone
     
  24. Admiral Thrawn

    Admiral Thrawn F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2003
    3,932
    9:00 - 3:00 is the normal position.

    Most standard driving instructors don't know anything about driving, besides the road rules...

    If you know you're going to have an accident and are beyond the point of taking avoiding action, take your hands off the wheel and put them against your chest / abdomen. This will not only protect your hands, wrists and arms from the airbag inflating, but also from sudden rotation of the wheel.

    The following video is a good illustration. It is onboard footage of Montoya at Suzuka in 2002 during Free Practice 2, running wide off the track at Denger Curve and into the tyre barrier. You can see clearly how he takes his hands off the wheel and puts them against his chest. The only variation I would make to this in a road car is to place your arms slightly lower and in more of a crossed position, because there is no 6 point harness holding your body firmly to the seat.

    http://rapidshare.de/files/8573844/Suzuka_2002_FP2_Montoya_crashing_onboard.avi.html
     
  25. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

    Jun 11, 2004
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    Komrade Jung
    #25 jungathart, Dec 3, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

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