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Page 48: Steering

Our summary · page 48

  • Hold the wheel with your left hand at about 9 o’clock and your right at about 3 o’clock. If the wheel’s design doesn’t allow it, use about 10 and 2 o’clock.
  • Turn corners using the hand-over-hand method. Return the wheel the same way, or loosen your grip slightly and let it slide back, keeping contact.
  • In a right turn, the left hand turns the wheel while the right moves to the top. Then the right hand turns it and the left goes back to 9 o’clock.

Steering

Think of the steering wheel as a clock. To have the best vehicle control, place your left hand at about the 9 o’clock position. Your right hand should be at about the 3 o’clock position. If this is not possible due to the design of the steering wheel, place your left hand at about the 10 o’clock position and your right hand at about the 2 o’clock position.

When turning a corner, steer using the hand-over-hand method. When returning the wheel from a turning position, use the hand-over-hand method. You can also let the steering wheel slide through your hands back into position by loosening your grip slightly, but keeping contact with the steering wheel.

Hand placements during a right turn: A. Hand position to begin a left or right turn.

B. For right turns, the left hand applies turning power. Right hand releases the steering wheel, and moves to the top of the steering wheel.

C. Right hand takes new position and applies turning power.

D. Left hand releases the steering wheel, and returns to 9 o’clock position. E. Reverse the steps to complete the turn and return the steering wheel to the normal position. Turn completed, return hands to driving position.

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Reproduced from the Driver's Guide: cars and light trucks (Spring 2026), Government of Alberta.

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Alberta. Class 7 Practice is an independent study tool, not affiliated with the Government of Alberta.

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