A 3-minute lesson from the Louisiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Good steering is smooth and matched to your speed. The handbook explains what happens when tires lose grip in a turn (oversteer and understeer), four steering methods, and a 10-point plan for taking corners.
Oversteer
The rear tires lose traction before the front in a turn; the rear slides out and the car turns more than you intended and may spin. Rear-wheel-drive cars are more prone.
The front tires lose traction first; the car turns less than intended and runs wide. Front-wheel-drive cars are more prone. It is safer than oversteer.
To correct understeer, lift off the accelerator and apply the brakes to shift weight onto the front tires. Adding more steering makes the front tires lose grip completely.
Push/pull steering is preferred: left hand between 7 and 8 o'clock, right hand between 4 and 5. Your hands never cross, so there's less injury risk if the air bag deploys.
Your rear-wheel-drive car's back end starts to slide outward in a curve. Don't slam the brakes, which makes oversteer worse. Gently reduce your steering angle and ease off the gas.
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.
What is the preferred steering method for turning during normal forward driving above 10-15 mph?
Hand-over-hand steering
One-hand steering
Hand-to-hand (push/pull) steering
Evasive action steering
Answer: Hand-to-hand (push/pull) steering
Hand-to-hand steering is preferred for normal driving because hands never cross over the wheel, reducing injury risk with air bags.