Until fairly recently, racecar drivers were viewed as just that - drivers. The question of a comfortable environment was never addressed until someone concluded that a comfortable driver was going to be a more focused and a better, maybe faster driver. Real life has proven this to be true. After all, in your everyday life, a comfortable seat makes a difference in your ability to concentrate.
So, what has this to do with driving your car better and more safely? The answer is that if you are focused, you are going to be a better, safer driver. The seating position should be with the back of the seat slightly reclined, maybe one or two notches from the vertical. Your legs should have a 60-80 degree bend at the knee.
Your hand positioning is easy to set. When you get into your vehicle, put your wrists on top of the steering wheel. They should be at the top of the wheel at the 12 o'clock position, with the wheel 1/2-1 1/2" behind the wrist joint. Some drivers like the wrists to just "cut" the top of the steering wheel. Try to find you most comfortable position that gives you the required wheel authority.
If you are now leaning forward, move your seat up to achieve both the wrist and knee bent positioning. Together the position should be comfortable and relaxed. I really can't stress the importance of taking time to get this right. Your arms should have an 80-90 degree bend at the elbow once you have settled in. You will probably be somewhat nearer the wheel than customary for you, but try it both on short and longer journeys. Correct seat placement, along with steering wheel adjustment should ensure that you are in the correct position for a safe controlled drive.
The benefit of this positioning is in the event of a crash, your arms and legs will act as shock absorbers - they can move up and back. Put another way, if your arms and legs are straight, any energy from a head-on crash is going to transfer directly to your hip joint, as well as to your shoulder socket. The additional benefit is that you have improved steering wheel authority, and therefore, increased car control. Let's turn to your hand positioning on the wheel. This is one subject that just about everyone has a strong opinion on - and they are all different! If your question is " What is the one hand position I should use?" I would reply "There is no one position!" I can hear the gasps now.
I have found the combined effect of the seat position, particularly as it relates to your arm angle, plus hand positioning on the wheel, become vital to effective steering control and authority and therefore to car control.
The most universally accepted is 9 to 3, however one hears of police forces suggesting 7 to 5, 8 to 4 and more. My own opinion is that anything less than 9 to 3 and you probably have reduced your steering authority by 80%. Never ever "just" put one arm or both arms completely through the steering wheel. This is simply downright dangerous since it offers no steering authority in the event of avoiding a collision, and to have any effect, you would have to move your hands on to the actual wheel. It is also an easy way of breaking wrists and arms if a curb or pothole is hit. In heavy town traffic, I use 9 to 3. The primary reason is that if I have to execute a major traffic avoidance procedure, I can get rapid and at least half a lock of turn on the wheel before moving my hands. It is highly effective when someone "suddenly" comes out of a driveway or a parking lot.
On the freeway I prefer the 10 to 2 or 9 to 3. The 10 to 2 gives good authority and is a natural and relaxed position. The determinate is the density of the traffic around me. On fast flowing open roads, I will even go to 11 to 1. The basis of this being that the car is going to go where you eyes are looking, and on a open flowing road you can look well ahead. With this you should be able to achieve a smooth drive with good car balance. If combined with throttle finesse and sensitivity, you will find your braking action is substantially reduced. You will know how you are doing, because if it is right, you will feel great - and so will your passengers!
Let's go back to town driving for a moment. Yes we are at 9 to 3, but we have to execute a turn in two blocks - what then? Again this depends on how you steer. If you use rotational steering or the pull/push method, consider this option. I always use pull and push since it gives greater wheel control, providing your hands do not drop below 9 to 3. We know that right hand turns are harder to make because of the reduced radius of the corner. Left-hand turns are easier, but the downside is having to face and cross over oncoming traffic.
The objective of cornering is to achieve a smooth, continuous movement around the radius of the corner, and end in the correct position of the exit road.
Starting with the right hand turn. Your hands are at 9 to 3. You approach the turn, mirror check, indicate, and move into position, brake to get your speed down to the appropriate level for the corner - feel those brakes biting. Make a conscious point of not going for secondary braking. Get the job done the first time. If you drive a manual car select the correct gear - probably either 2nd or even 1st. Move your right hand to the 12 o'clock position, your left hand to either 9 or maybe 8 depending on the severity of the corner. Approaching the corner, you are now indicating, doing another mirror check - inside mirror and right hand side mirror, and you are at the correct speed and gear. At the corner pull with your right hand, allowing your left hand to slide and stay at the 9 position. At the apex of the corner, your right hand has probably pulled as much as it can, and you need to start pushing with your left. Also consider moving your right back to the 1 or maybe 12 position. The key point is the ability to turn the corner as smoothly, with as little steering input as necessary, and to end up in the middle of your side of the road, with your hands back at the 9 to 3 or 10 to 2 position.
I understand this may appear to be complex. With practice it is easy, and gives a well-planned and smoothly executed drive around the corner. For left-hand turns, just reverse the process, and also use the driver's side window. This allows you to visually pick up the severity of the turn, and the lane markings. We will discuss the use of side windows in future articles.
I hope you were all seated comfortably when you read this, and incorporate some of the thoughts and comments from this article into your everyday driving. Safe controlled driving to you all. Talk yourself into talking; your own commentary can increase your safety. This is the second in a series of five articles that deal with defensive driving techniques. Contributed by Gordon Booth, Team Corvette member and Chief Instructor of Drivetrain Inc. based in San Jose California. Visit www.drivetrainusa.com
Gordon's earlier article "Driving or Car Control" was published in the June 2001 issue of the "Team Corvette" magazine
