Traditional steering faces new challenge

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/04/2004 (7922 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OLD vs. new — tradition vs. trend — we are constantly faced with the dilemma as to whether to carry on with that we know, or try an alternative. In the last decade we’ve seen a new method of setting rear view mirrors and a different method of steering.

The tried-and-true hand-over-hand steering method is being challenged by an alternative method called hand-to-hand, shuffle or push-pull steering. The latter method is not new, but generally speaking driving instructors prefer and preach hand-over-hand steering. But the advent of airbags has brought the alternate method to the fore.

Driving manuals describe the two thusly: HAND-OVER-HAND: hands at nine and three, one hand pushes the wheel up, over and down (left hand for right turns and vice versa). At the same time the other hand releases the wheel and passes across the forearm to grip the wheel on the far side. That hand then pulls that side of the wheel up, over and down. This is continued as necessary to complete the turn. PUSH-PULL: hands between three and five and seven and nine o’clock on the wheel. One hand pushes the wheel upward toward 12 o’clock (left hand in right turns and vice versa). Simultaneously, the other hand slides up to grab the wheel at 1 o’clock for a right turn or 11 o’clock for a left turn and pulls the wheel down. While the pulling hand goes down the other hand returns to its original position to repeat if more steering input is needed.

There is no doubt, having our forearms across the centre of the steering wheel would be disastrous during an airbag deployment. That is the premise for the use of push-pull steering — ensuring your hands and arms are never in the path of a deployed airbag.

There are several issues to deal with here before deciding to switch. 1) HAND POSITION — the old way of placing your hands on the steering wheel, at ten and two is still acceptable, but experts now agree that nine and three or even four and eight might be more preferable. The latter has proven beneficial for long drives as it keeps the hands below the heart, and is believed to relieve such symptoms as numbness, tingling fingers or “sleepy” hands.

Other mitigating factors in deciding hand position include the presumption that you actually care and commonly use both hands and the design of the steering wheel itself, which frequently dictates hand position by placing spokes where the hands might well go.

Those who advocate push-pull steering use not only the airbag argument but also the fact it is easier and smoother during multiple turns of the wheel.

Proponents of the old system argue it guarantees quicker response during a threat, prevents being caught with only one hand on the wheel and ensures more accurate steering.

The argument rages on. Perhaps compromise is the answer — a combination of the two — push pull in slow-speed, i.e. parking or turning tight corners at low speeds, and hand-over hand at other times. At anything above idle speed you can control the vehicles without having to move your hands from the wheel and in fact can maneuver in most situations without having to remove either hand from the wheel.

By the time this one is worked out, we’ll be steering with a joystick!