Thumb safety - a question

[alanymarce]

When I was first learning to drive off road, I was taught never to have either of my thumbs inside the steering wheel - the concern being that in the event of hitting a rock/tree stump/some other obstacle, the reaction would be that the relevant wheel would be twisted and the resulting torque would make the steering wheel spin, potentially breaking your thumb, if it could be hit by the spinning wheel. If not broken then badly injured. Obviously the idea is not to hit such an obstacle, however in thick vegetation, mud, or water, it's not always possible to see things.



I was watching ("lockdown" exercise) a 4WD youtube video the other day and noticed that some of the experts involved were driving in very uneven conditions with their thumbs inside the wheel.



Am I the only one to have been taught that this is a bad idea?

[gazza11]

No, you were taught correctly.

[erad]

In the olden days they didn't have power steering, and any force that you applied to the steering wheel could be thrown back at you if one of the wheels hit a rock or similar and caused a kickback. It could break you thumbs if they were inside the steering wheel rim. Nowadays, most vehicles have power steering and any input from the driver is magnified at the output from the steering box or rack and pinion. If a kickback does occur, there is no reverse amplification and less feedback is likely. However, the principle still applies - keep you thumbs out of the centre of the wheel and you will be much safer.

[Just Cruzin]

Thumbs were a huge problem back in the pre power steering days, even just clipping the gutter (kerb) while parking could cause you severe damage.

[Alex86]

Next question for debate...

10&2 or
9&3
for hand position.....

[gazza11]

10-2 position and the push-pull method......has worked fine for me.

[Just Cruzin]

Next question for debate...

10&2 or
9&3
for hand position.....

12 plus window.

[BruceandBobbi]

Advanced driving courses teach 9 and 3. That's the super car and formula one drivers way.

[NFT5]

Yes, although there are slight variations on this. I was taught 10-3.

[rgrubby]

12 plus window.

I like that

9-3 came about due to airbags in steering wheels - or so I've heard

[bb2wa]

Thumbs were a huge problem back in the pre power steering days, even just clipping the gutter (kerb) while parking could cause you severe damage.

Back in Pre-History doing cross country traverses in Landcruiser traybacks with no power steering, the steering wheel could spin very very fast if mounting a large unseen boulder. Broken thumbs very likely if holding the steering wheel incorrectly.

[alanymarce]

I was taught 10-2, pull (not push), and never cross your arms/hands (i.e., keep your hands between 12 and 5/7). Starting at 10 & 2 means that for most curves your hands are between 9 & 11 / 1 & 3.