New Driver-question about letting go of the wheel?

Question

I just got my permit a couple weeks ago and I had my first required lesson with a driving teacher. He told me to, after making a turn, let go of the wheel so that the vehicle can automatically straighten itself out. My initial instincts were that this was totally crap, because letting go of the wheel with both hands, ever, means loss of control with the vehicle, which is bad for numerous reasons. And a week or so later, while driving with my dad, after I completed a turn and took my hands off the wheel to, as my instructed told me, let the car could straighten out, my dad said to never ever do that. And he basically told me that my initial instincts were true. So, who should I listen to, the instructor who has taught countless kids this or my dad who has taken defensive driving courses where the men there told him that taking your hands off the wheel is a serious mistake. So. take both hands off the wheel sometimes, or never?

Answer 1

Wow...your instructor is SO wrong and should have his license to teach driving revoked.

A student or novice driver should never relinquish control of the steering wheel by letting go...obviously this is an extremely dangerous practice since it would only take the wheels of the car to contact something in the road or even a small pothole to change direction and possibly cause an accident or even injure someone.

Now, as a mature, experienced driver myself I can say in all honesty there are times that during the course of making a turn and as the car is straightening out, I do let loose of the wheel but, am always prepared to get a tight grip back on the wheel if necessary....BUT, this only comes with experience.

So, your instincts and what your dad told you are exactly correct and if this instructor tells all his students the same thing I feel it would be justified to report him, or at least talk this over with, someone at the driving school that he reports to.

Rachel, your dad should take this up with the Driving School, they need to be made aware of what their students are being instructed to do.

Answer 2

In my honest opinion it is just a matter of preference. While "letting go" of the wheel to let the car straighting itself out is more of just letting the wheel run gently through your hands, never, actually off the wheel is something countless drivers do keeping them firmly on the wheel while making a turn and straighting out is something that others prefer. I think it also depends on the car your driving some are better and straighting out by them self's while others are not. For example when I'm driving my own car I do let the wheel slid in my hands most of the tI'me when making turns but when im driving the fire truck i always keep them on the wheel.Just do what you need to to make your instructor happy so you can pass the class and develop your own safe driving style that will let you concentrate on the road and not letting go of the wheel.

Answer 3

Never take hands off wheel while driving.
Stop first, if you need to take hands off wheel for something.

It depends on the car, the road, power steering etc, many factors ... a car is not going to straighten itself out just because someone let go.

I go around a curve, I straighen it out the way I want it to, into the lane I want it into

Occasionally, when there is not a lot of traffic around me, I may lift my hands off the wheel, but hold them real close ... what I am checking for is if the car keeps going in direction I pointed it, or if it is "pulling" in one direction, which can happen if the ttires are not perfectly balanced ... if it does "pull" to one side or other, then that tells me it is time to go and get the tires rotated.

Ask your Dad to talk with the Teacher about this, because you need to pass the class, you need to live, you need to learn good habits.

Answer 4

I was told not to do that! Taking your hands off the wheel is very dangerous! OK, so I do it sometimes when I'm driving straight, but you shouldn't!

What you describe sounds like the "auto-correct" that steering wheels have....even when letting the steering wheel auto-correct you should keep a light hold on it with both hands and just let the wheel run through...BUT when I was learning to drive I was told to NEVER let it auto-correct and always manually move the steering wheel back to the correct position! It was a failable offence! Maybe you need to correct your instrutror or better still find a new one!

Answer 5

You NEVER let go of the wheel completely! EVER! When coming out of a turn it's fine to allow it to "slide" through your hands but you should NOT let go of it completely. Loosen your grip enough so that the wheel returns to center by itself but under your direct control at ALL times.

Your Dad is correct and your driving instructor is simply WRONG on this one! I'd ask for a new instructor if possible as this one is NOT teaching you properly!

Answer 6

No, you shouldn't just completely let go of the wheel and your instructor is either in error for suggesting this or you didn't hear him correctly. Allowing the wheel to return on its own after completing a turn is advisable, since it will correct faster. Keeping alert and having your hands ready to make any necessary adjustments is the way to drive safely. Even in a turn, something can enter your path.

Answer 7

the instucter was right, but your dad was also since you are a new driver you need to keep your hands on the wheel at all times, but after you have been driving a while, 6 months, an u r more experienced then u can listen to the driving instructer and take you hands off the whell

Answer 8

just loosen ur grip and let the wheel straiten ifself out and then tighten when its strait, the wheel will kind of rub across the palm of ur hands, so you really do not technically take ur hands off the wheel , it will make for a smooth turn and cops wont know ur wasted wnen u and ur girls are out partying and pickin dudes up. have fun

Answer 9

always have control of your car. taking your hands off the wheel is not in control.

Answer 10

Cut, cut, cut! Some people don't really know the answers here. Today, most cars come equipped with a power steering, which, no matter what you do, straightens itself as soon as you leave it. Acceleration needed. So there is no danger of leaving it.Your trainer is correct, but you should practice of not letting go of the wheel, so It can work in cars where you don't have power steering.