How To Drive A Motorcar
A Key To The Subtleties Of Motoring

HOW TO HOLD THE WHEEL wheels, a greasy road may mean a front-wheel skid (this matter is dealt with more fully in a later chapter devoted to skidding), whilst even if this should not occur one of the more ordinary type of skids may be caused. How to Hold the Wheel This, again, is a subject in which there are many variations, and the personality of the driver must necessarily enter into the subject. For instance, when giving any hints on this subject, the size of the driver’s hand and the strength of his fingers and wrist must all enter into consideration. A large number of motorists make a habit of driving a considerable proportion of their time with only one hand on the wheel, but really it is just as easy, when one is accustomed to it, to use both without any fatigue. One is almost justified in stating that it is preferable to make a habit of using both hands for steering, as then, in case of emergency, the right hand is instantaneously ready and in a handy position to grasp the side brake, whilst the left hand is already on the wheel and the grip merely wants tightening a little in order to perform the work demanded from it. If one is in the habit of using first the right hand and then the left, it may so chance that when the right is being used a sudden emergency case crops up, when it is necessary first of all to get the left hand to the steer- ing wheel, and then remove the right hand to the brake lever. It may be that it only takes a fraction of a second so to do, but the value of a fraction of a second as frequently constituting the difference between having an accident and just missing one has already been shown. Quite a good plan is to hold the steering wheel with the back of the hand upwards, the fingers going round the top of the wheel with the thumb underneath. Alternatively, this grip may be reversed, though in each case the grip, whilst being reasonably firm and instantaneously ready to be very firm, should not, under ordinary circumstances, be too tight. The actual place on which the hand should rest on 51 d2