Can You Let the Steering Wheel Slide During the Driving Test?

When you watch other experienced drivers, you may notice that they often just let the steering wheel slide in their hands. They hold their hand in one place and the steering wheel just slides back to let the car go straight after turning. This seems so easy and more convenient than moving your hands and helping the steering wheel to come back to the straight position.

But can you let the steering wheel slide in your hands after turning during the driving test? While some inspectors can allow this, it's a bad idea that may cost you a lot. The inspector may use it as the reason to prove that you failed the driving test and need to retake it. Especially if there are some other mistakes in the process.

Here's what I will cover in this article:

• Sliding steering wheel during the driving test - why is it a bad idea?
• Is it forbidden to slide the steering wheel in your hands?
• Can you use this technique in your everyday driving?
• Some key facts about operating the steering wheel during the driving test.

Let's get started!

Sliding the steering wheel in your hands during a driving test

To get a driving license, you need to pass the driving test. You will drive your car and the inspector will watch you doing this. Usually, the inspector is sitting in the front passenger seat and doesn't tell you anything - just makes some notes. The inspector is not the instructor, so they won't tell you what you did wrong - at least, this isn't something they are meant to do.

Usually, they will just take some notes during your driving test and then they will announce at the end of your short drive whether you can get your driving license or will need to retake the test.

Here's what I should say about the technique of sliding the steering wheel in your hands during a driving test:

• it's not actually illegal because I couldn't find any special laws forbidding this (at least, in the biggest states);
• anyway, there are recommendations on how you should hold the steering wheel during driving;
• in most cases, these recommendations clearly describe that you should firmly hold the steering wheel with your hands;
• it means that if you let the steering wheel slide, you will not obey the clear instructions on how to steer the car;
• although this won't be a clear indicator of you not passing the test, it may still be added to other mistakes and play a huge role in the end.

I spoke to several instructors and inspectors and they told me that they don't pay hue attention to the technique of sliding the steering wheel between hands. But they will obviously take some notes about it and will see at the end of the test if you made a lot of such small mistakes. Even if you didn't break any rules, you could fail the test because of several minor mistakes like sliding the steering wheel between your hands.

So, the clear answer is no, you shouldn't let the steering wheel slide in your hands when you are trying to pass the driving test. After you completed the turn, hold the steering wheel firmly in both hands and turn it to the straight position by changing the position of your hands on the steering wheel.

Is it legally forbidden to let the steering wheel slide in your hands?

No, there are no special laws that could be the reason for the fine or some other penalty on the road for letting the steering wheel slide in your hands. But when you are passing the driving test, the inspector doesn't only look at the official road rules and the way you obey them. The inspector also looks at the overall safety of your driving techniques and how you operate the vehicle control units in different situations.

There are recommendations on how you should drive the vehicle. And these recommendations clearly state how you should turn the steering wheel. If you don't do this, such a mistake can easily become the main reason why you fail the test. In most cases, the inspector will tell you why the test was failed, and on your next try, you will be wiser to avoid this mistake.

But there is a clear instruction to immediately stop the test if your palms are losing contact with the steering wheel. So, if you let the steering wheel slide but your palms are still touching the wheel, this can be considered a minor mistake. And if you don't make any other mistakes, this one may even be overlooked. But if your palms lose contact with the steering wheel, you will most likely fail the test immediately.

Although there is no clear legal statement that would forbid you to do that when you are driving, inspectors will never let you pass after you do this.

What about letting the steering wheel slip in your everyday driving?

Most drivers just do that and it's not illegal. You can develop the technique when you just let the steering wheel slip on its own after you complete a turn. The steering wheel in a normal working car will come back to a straight position without any help on your side. The energy that comes from the wheels makes the steering system adjust to straightforward driving.

Here's how you do that:

• complete the turn and start accelerating;
• simultaneously loosen the grip on the steering wheel without turning it with your hands;
• you will feel that the steering wheel quickly turns to come back to the straightforward position;
• you may need to adjust it a little in the end to make the car go exactly in the direction you need;
• hold the steering wheel firmly after the car goes back to the straightforward movement.

You shouldn't do that if you see that there are obstructions on the road and you can hit something if the car is not steered precisely. After you get some experience, you will predict precisely where the car is going to go after you let the steering wheel slip and rotate on its own. But until you understand how the vehicle acts in such cases, you shouldn't even start trying on busy roads.

Also, don't do that in new cars that you are driving for the first time. You will need to try doing that on empty roads first and then you will understand how it works in this exact vehicle.

Never do this on slippery roads because once you loosen the grip, your car may throw a surprise and you will not react immediately. Also, you need to make sure that the vehicle is in good condition, and that there are no problems with suspension, tire pressure, etc. If there are some issues, you will not be able to control the car when it turns, so holding the steering wheel firmly at all times will be an important part of safe driving.

Here's how you should operate the steering wheel during the driving test

• Hold it firmly with both hands. You can only hold it with one hand when you need to shift the gears or use stalks to turn on blinkers, wipers, etc.
• When you turn, one of your hands should always be in full contact with the steering wheel. Before you take one hand off the wheel, make sure that the other hand holds it firmly.
• If suddenly the steering wheel starts slipping in your hands, adjust your grip so that you could prevent it from slipping.
• Rearrange your hands one by one without letting the steering wheel live its own life without you controlling it. This will help you avoid failing the test immediately.
• Don't let the steering wheel go until the car is fully stopped. Also, make sure you firmly hold the wheel before your car starts moving.
• When operating the wheel, try holding it in the upper half on the sides. This is the most comfortable place for reacting to any possible road conditions and situations.

When you need to turn left, use your right hand to start turning, your left hand should change the position and continue turning the wheel if needed. Then use the left hand to start adjusting the wheel back to its straightforward position and catch it with the right hand at the end. The same works with turning right, but your left hand will start the process.

It seems to be easy but actually, this needs a lot of practice. If you are still learning, ask your instructor to tell you more about the correct operation of the steering wheel.

Final thoughts

I should tell you that passing the driving test becomes harder every year. New conditions and requirements add regularly and new drivers need to know more and more information to get the right to legally drive on American roads.

Operating the steering wheel correctly is one of the key factors in passing the driving test. Also, if you let the steering wheel slip without any control of it, you will most likely fail the test immediately. Hold the steering wheel firmly with at least one hand and don't let it slip.