BrokenMa and I had to go to a meeting at BrokenKid's high school the other evening, because Kid is old enough to be getting her Learner's Permit. The purpose of the meeting was, on the whole, very good; it was aimed at reminding parents that teenage drivers are a high-risk group, and it's up to the parents to help mitigate that risk by teaching the kids good habits. All well and good.
But one of the things they told us at that meeting, I cannot wrap my brain around.
They are teaching the kids that the proper way to hold the steering wheel is at 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock, with an underhanded grip. They claim that this method has the benefit of giving greater control over the vehicle, as well as protecting from hand injury in the case of an airbag deployment.
I've tried it, and I don't buy it, for a couple of reasons.
First, with hands at 8 and 4, supinated, the elbows are locked down by the sides, and the shoulders are in a position that prevents inward motion; if you suddenly had to turn the car right, for instance, your left hand would rotate up and to the left, and your right hand would be dragged downward and inward. Trying this put stress on my right shoulder, and it feels like if it were done forcefully enough, it would cause joint injury. The only alternative is to let go with the right hand, and I was taught by my behind-the-wheel instructor that it was best to have both hands on the wheel for positive control whenever possible.
Second, with hands at 2 and 10, any steering action is initiated by pulling downward with the appropriate hand. This is a naturally-strong action, and puts no stress on the wrists. With 8/4, you're pushing upwards, which is an intrinsically weaker movement, and puts more stress on the wrists.
Third, I've been in an airbag-deployment collision, and I was driving with my hands at 10 and 2, the way I was taught. The people at this meeting the other night implied that 10/2 would lead to hand injury during an airbag deployment, because the hands and arms would be driven up into the face. I suppose this is possible if you drive with your seat so close to your steering wheel that your arms are bent at a 90-degree angle, but if you're that close to the wheel when the airbag goes off, you have bigger problems than whether your hands get hurt; you'll be taking the full deployment pressure of the airbag right on the sternum. Further, if my hands were at 8 and 4, my frame would be locked in a position that is inflexible (where do your put your elbows for rigid support when you're carrying a heavy load? By your sides, right where 8/4 puts them), and the sudden violent motion with them in an inflexible position would lead to shoulder dislocation or elbow damage at the very least.
Fourth, they're telling us that this position is best because of how much safer it is during an airbag deployment. Given that I've been driving for 18 years and I've been in an airbag collision once, I can say that my own personal odds are at least 6500:1 against being in such a collision on any given day; with those odds, I'd rather be in a driving position that gives me better control of the vehicle, and take my chances on getting a broken wrist if my number comes up.
As anyone else hear of this 8/4 hand position thing? Is it legitimate? Or is this another case of Educators justifying their budgets by teaching something that runs contrary to common sense? I'm inclined to fight the school on this one, and put BrokenKid in private behind-the-wheel classes, because of how wrong this seems. I'm doubly so inclined because the teacher actually said (and this is a direct quote), "Don't fight us on this." When people say things like that I get the automagic feeling that they're defensive about it and can't actually justify their position.
So are there any experts out there who can shed light on this? Cops? Driving instructors? OTR drivers? Has anyone even heard about the 8/4 supinated hand position?
Thanks,
-BP
