The pull-push method is the technique endorsed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in the UK and most professional driving instructors worldwide. It’s designed to give you smooth, controlled, and safe steering at all times.
How to Perform the Pull-Push Technique:
- Hand Position: Start with your hands at the “ten-to-two” or “quarter-to-three” position on the steering wheel. This gives you optimal control and leverage.
- To Turn Right:
- Your right hand pulls the wheel down from the 2 o’clock position towards the 5 or 6 o’clock position.
- As your right hand pulls down, your left hand slides up the wheel to meet it around the 12 o’clock position.
- Your left hand then pushes the wheel down towards the 6 o’clock position, while your right hand slides back up to around the 1 o’clock position to continue the turn.
- To Turn Left: Simply reverse the process. Your left hand pulls down, and your right hand slides up and pushes.
Why the Pull-Push Technique is So Highly Recommended:
- Safety: Your hands never cross the centre of the steering wheel, significantly reducing the risk of injury from the wheel recoiling or an airbag deploying. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has long emphasised the importance of keeping hands out of the airbag deployment zone to prevent injury.
- Control: It allows for precise and smooth steering inputs, preventing the jerky movements often associated with crossing your arms. This is crucial for maintaining stability, especially when cornering at higher speeds or on slippery surfaces.
- Readiness: You are always in a prepared position to make an adjustment in the opposite direction if needed. A study by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), a world-leading centre for innovation in transport, has shown that consistent hand positioning improves reaction times in unexpected situations.
- Test Success: Using the pull-push method demonstrates to your DVSA examiner that you have full control of the vehicle, which is a key assessment criteria. Failing to maintain proper control of the steering is a marked fault.
The Controversial One: Hand-Over-Hand Steering
The hand-over-hand method is more dramatic and instinctive for some. It involves gripping the wheel and crossing your arms over each other to turn it.
How it Works:
To turn right, your left hand crosses over your right arm to grab the wheel high on the left side and pull down, while your right hand releases and moves up to grab a higher section. This creates a continuous “crossing” motion.
The Downsides of Hand-Over-Hand:
- Airbag Risk: This technique often places your arms directly across the steering wheel hub, where the airbag is housed. In a collision, the force of the airbag deploying can force your arms into your face, causing serious injury.
- Less Control: It can easily lead to over-steering (turning the wheel too much) and creates a tendency to “spin” the wheel back rather than follow a controlled path, making it harder to straighten up accurately.
- It Looks Bad: While not the primary concern, an examiner will see frantic hand-over-hand steering as a sign of a lack of finesse and control. It can make your driving appear nervous and unpolished.
Is It Ever Acceptable?
There is one scenario where a very small, controlled hand-over-hand motion might be necessary: during a very slow, tight manoeuvre, like turning in a narrow street or parking. However, even then, most advanced drivers will use a “shuffling” variation of the pull-push method. The general rule is to default to pull-push and only deviate minimally if absolutely essential.
So, Which One Should You Use for Your Test?
The answer is clear. You must master the pull-push technique for your driving test.
The official DVSA guide for driving instructors explicitly states that drivers should “steer using the pull-push method” to maintain full control. Using excessive hand-over-hand steering will be marked as a fault for lacking control, and consistently poor steering control is a surefire way to fail.
Your instructor will drill this technique from the very first lesson because it forms the foundation for every other skill you’ll learn, from navigating roundabouts to performing emergency stops.
Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect
While hand-over-hand might feel more dramatic and “fast,” the pull-push technique is undeniably safer, smoother, and more professional. It’s the technique of choice for advanced drivers and racing professionals because it offers superior control.
The best way to get comfortable with it is to practice. Even when you’re not driving, you can visualise the motions. Sit in a chair and mimic the pull-push movement with an imaginary steering wheel. This muscle memory will translate into the car, making it second nature.
Mastering this fundamental skill will not only help you pass your test but will also set you up for a lifetime of safer, more confident driving. Stick with pull-push—your instructor and your future self will thank you for it.
