Steering
Steering is about putting the car exactly where you want it on the road, smoothly and without drama. Most of it is small, gentle movements, with bigger ones for corners and manoeuvres.
Where you look matters as much as what your hands do. The car tends to go where your eyes are pointing.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can hold the wheel so you are in full control.
- You can keep a steady course in a sensible position on the road.
- You can use pull-push steering for turns and manoeuvres.
- You can steer smoothly through bends at a suitable speed.
- You can keep control of the steering while changing gear or using other controls.
What you need to know and understand
- Drive with both hands on the wheel where possible.
- A comfortable hand position is roughly ten to two or quarter to three on a clock face.
- Once moving, keep to the left unless signs or markings tell you otherwise, and keep well to the left on right-hand bends.
- Slow down before a bend, not in it. Braking or steering sharply on a bend can upset the car's balance.
- Do not turn the wheel while the car is stationary. Dry steering wears the tyres and steering parts.
- The DVSA examiner assesses whether you are in control, not whether you use one particular steering method.
Holding the wheel
Hold the wheel lightly but firmly, with your thumbs resting along the rim rather than hooked inside it. Too tight a grip makes your movements jerky and tires your arms. Keep both hands on the wheel unless you are changing gear or using a switch, and return the hand to the wheel straight away afterwards.
Look well ahead, towards where you want to go, rather than at the bonnet or the kerb just in front. This helps you keep a straight, steady line.
Pull-push steering
Most instructors teach pull-push steering because it keeps both hands on the wheel and stops your arms crossing, which gives you good control if something unexpected happens.
- To turn left, slide your left hand up towards the top of the wheel.
- Pull the wheel down with your left hand while your right hand slides down the rim to meet it.
- Push the wheel up with your right hand while your left hand slides back up.
- Repeat until you have enough lock. Turning right works the same way with the hands swapped.
- To straighten up, feed the wheel back the other way using the same method. Do not let it spin back on its own through your hands.
Bends, corners and grip
Get your speed right before a bend, using the brakes and a suitable gear while the car is still straight. Then steer smoothly and keep a gentle, steady pressure on the accelerator through the bend. On a right-hand bend keep well left so you are clear of oncoming traffic.
On wet, icy or loose surfaces the tyres can lose grip and the car may not respond to steering. Many cars have electronic stability control to help, but it cannot beat the laws of physics. If the car skids, ease off the accelerator and steer smoothly in the direction of the skid.
Common mistakes
- Looking at the kerb or the bonnet. Look well ahead where you want the car to go.
- Oversteering then correcting, so the car weaves. Use small, smooth movements.
- Taking a hand off the wheel for too long, for example resting it on the gear lever. Return it straight away.
- Turning the wheel too late or too early for a corner. Start steering when you can see into the new road.
- Braking hard in the middle of a bend. Slow down before you get there.
Test yourself: Steering
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Highway Code rule 160 (gov.uk); Highway Code rule 119 (gov.uk); DVSA car and light van driving syllabus, unit 2 (gov.uk). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the DVSA.