Steering is not simply a matter of pointing the car in the direction you want to go but a basic means of risk management.
How Can You Steer Your Car Forward and Through Turns?
Steering plays a particularly important part in risk management. Steering may often be your only way to avoid a collision because higher speeds increase the distance and time needed to stop the car.
- Holding the Steering Wheel
When steering in a straight line or through a moderate curve, grasp the steering wheel firmly with your fingers. Think of the steering wheel as the face of a clock. Positioning your hands at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock is avoiding the accident and 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock is waiting for the accident to happen.
- Tracking and Steering
Keeping your car moving on the path of travel that you have chosen is called tracking. Tracking requires a driver to make whatever steering adjustments are needed to hold the desired course. To track smoothly, learn to direct your attention to points 20 to 30 seconds ahead along your intended path of travel. Choose these points on the basis of where you want to go and traffic conditions. With practice and concentration you’ll learn to look through curves and well ahead of your car along your path of travel.
- Steering in s Straight Line
Steer toward a point in the center of your path of travel, looking well ahead as you drive. As you drive, check your mirrors whenever you spot anything along your intended path of travel that could cause you to change speed or position. To look in your rearview mirror move just your eyes, to look in your side view mirror turn your head only slightly.
- Steering to Turn
To turn corners smoothly and safely, you need to develop a good sense of timing and make a habit of searching a wider area. When steering through a turn keep in mind that your car’s rear wheels do not follow the same path as the front wheels. They have a smaller turning radius so allow ample space along the path you’re turning as your rear wheels may hit the curb. Two steering techniques are effective for turning the wheel: hand over hand and push pull.
- Hand-over-hand steering.
Hand-over-hand steering provides effective car control when you’re steering through tight radius turns.
- Push-pull steering.
Push-pull steering lets you keep both hands on the wheel at all times. Since your arms stay closer to your body, your body maintains a more upright position giving you better steering control. Use the following guidelines when making a turn:
- Look beyond the turn to the point you want to reach.
- Always use your directional signal. Check the roadway ahead and both mirrors before starting to turn.
- On a hard turn slow down enough to maintain steering control as you enter the curve.
- With your eyes on the point you want to reach, start to steer back to the straight ahead position when you’re midway through a turn by reversing your hand movements.
- How Do You Steer in Reverse?
When steering in Reverse gear you have to learn where to look and how to control direction and speed. Always back slowly. To maximize your ability to see, turn your head and shoulders so that you can look back in the direction you want to move. When you move backward the rear of your car moves in the direction that you turn the steering wheel while the front swings in the opposite direction.
- Steering to the Rear
- With your foot on the brake, shift into Reverse gear. Look over your right shoulder.
- Ease pressure off the brake slowly and move the car slowly.
- Look at the point where you want to go turning the wheel as needed.
- Concentrate your visual search out the rear window. Keep alert to ensure that the car is moving in the right direction and that the front end is not about to strike anything.
- Continue to look out the rear window as you bring the car to a stop.