A 3-minute lesson from the Delaware course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Smooth control starts before you move: parking brake on, correct gear, hands in the right place. Then accelerate gently, steer with purpose and stop early. Good drivers see events far enough ahead that they rarely need a panic stop.
Know the rule
Before starting, make sure the parking brake is on. Automatic transmission: shift to Park. Manual: not in gear (some cars also need the clutch pressed).
Hold the wheel on opposite sides: left hand between 8 and 10 o'clock, right hand between 2 and 4 o'clock. On high-speed roads this lets you turn without taking your hands off the wheel.
Use the hand-over-hand technique for sharp corners. After the turn, straighten the wheel by hand—letting it slip through your fingers can be dangerous.
Avoid panic stops by seeing events early—slowing or changing lanes may mean you don't have to stop at all. Braking suddenly can skid you and makes it harder for drivers behind you to stop.
A car stops suddenly ahead of you on a slick road. If your car has ABS, press the brake as hard as you can and keep pressing while you steer around if needed. Without ABS, brake hard but stop short of locking the wheels.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Where does the handbook say to place your hands on the steering wheel?
Left at 10–12 o'clock, right at 12–2 o'clock
Both hands together at 12 o'clock
Left at 6–8 o'clock, right at 4–6 o'clock
Left between 8 and 10, right between 2 and 4 o'clock
Answer: Left between 8 and 10, right between 2 and 4 o'clock
Hands go on opposite sides: left between 8 and 10 o'clock and right between 2 and 4 o'clock.
