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-   -   Accidents in India | Pics & Videos (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/road-safety/109249-accidents-india-pics-videos-1942.html)

Thankfully, it is not too horrible. In fact, it is quite amazing, and almost looks like an organised film stunt. I'm glad the biker was able to hunt for his shoes!

The car driver seems unhurt. I don't know that he deserves to be. :Frustrati

Guys, I used to hold the steering at 10 - 2. I read that due to the airbag deployment, ideal position is 9-3 or 8-4. I use the 8-4 position.

Doesn't 8-4 position hamper control/confidence while driving?

Since the early days, I was never comfortable with 10-2 as there was a need to hold the wheel tightly plus the arms had to be raised. My driving position is laid back. I shifted to 9-3 position years back not because of the safety aspect (wasn't aware of it) but for sheer comfort. I rest my thumbs over steering spokes, have a light grip on the steering with arms in a relaxed position.

8-4 would be taking it too far. I can't imagine driving with hands on the lower part of the steering. Downright scary! :eek:

Thumb contours are present at 9-3 position in a steering wheel. So ideal position as per manufacturers too is 9-3. I agree with you on 8-4 position. It feels as dangerous as it holding steering wheel because it does not provide less flexibility to the hands to perform different steering actions in case of emergency.

Steering positions recommended are 10 - 2 and 9 - 3 with more bias towards 10 - 2. Most cars have the thumb slots between these two positions. This also means an available 60° to 45° of rotation in either direction before your hands cross. 8 - 4 will give just 30° of rotation which is not enough. Thereafter it's an upward motion.

The hand position with airbag deployment matters if the person is not trying to steer away from the oncoming impact. If you are, which is normal, your hands are not likely to be in any of the above positions. There is no ideal scenario to have an accident.

:OT

Do you guys use both hands to hold the steering? I have been driving for 12 years using only one hand while my left hand is either on my lap or arm-rest (if provided).

And this includes hatchbacks, sedans, MUVs and SUVs :)!.

Anyway I think it is all a matter of being comfortable just like seat height, ORVMs etc.

I am no expert but a quick Google search showed that 10 - 2 position is no longer recommended since the advent of airbags. 9 - 3 is the recommended position nowadays.

I always have both hands on the steering wheel, even while cruising on the highways. I personally feel that it helps me stay alert :)

Would have helped if you considered the next few lines in my post. In any case, the best position is where your thumb can reach the steering mounted controls easily. I have 3 cars and in none of them can I reach the buttons or grab the steering at 9 and 3 positions, there are cross members that actually block this position regardless what "Google" might have to say.

Coming back to the actual topic, regardless of the position you are holding the steering, it's very unlikely that in an event of airbag deployment your hands will be at any of these recommended positions unless its a head-on crash where the driver did nothing to avoid the collision.

While the car driver is first bothered to check the damages caused to his car instead of checking on the biker's condition. By the way, full marks to the biker for the landing, if he were in gymnastics.

I did read the rest of your post and agree with your assessment regarding hand position not mattering during real world accidents. I was replying about your claim that 10-2 position is more recommended which have highlighted above. So the Google search result yielded few articles which said that the 10-2 position was predominantly used before and 9-3 is the more recommended position nowadays. Anyways at the end of the day, its all about personal preferences and driving styles suitable to oneself.

In the EcoSport, I have the thumb grooves at 9-3 and all steering mounted buttons and headlight and wiper stalks are within easy reach. Hence I am used to that position.

:OT post, to everyone discussing about the steering wheel holding position, we have a dedicated thread. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techn...ing-wheel.html

Mods, please move all these posts there.

I'm not even sure where I put my hands! I'll have to look!

Despite good instruction, and some nagging from my mother, I do a lot of one-handed driving. The other hand is always ready.

Thanks for sharing this here. The cool-ness factor of this guy is unmatched.

I am glad that he is okay but couldn't help but laugh every time I see this clip and it's already 20+ times that I have rewind and watched it.stupid:

By the way, I feel the car could have stopped for a bit before turning to avoid such a weird accident. "Haste makes waste" is something our folks don't understand at all. :Frustrati

In most likelihood, these guys know each other or are friends. I don't see any other logical reason for such a lukewarm reaction.

As it appears, biker was speeding a bit on a straight road and car driver's view was not blocked. Driver sitting in the car must be seeing the bike clearly through his windshield but he failed to anticipate. The only thing he had to do was stop or drive dead slow in his left lane and let the bike pass. Also I can see that car's right indicator was not turned on, may be a blinking indicator from a far distance would have attracted attention of the biker, giving him few extra seconds to brake or swerve.

On biker's part, his speed was more than he could handle in such a situation. There was no attempt from him in avoiding the collision.