Drive With Your Hands in a 9-3 O’Clock Position

For years, driving classes taught everyone to keep their hands at the 10 and 2 position on the wheel at all times. However, In recent years, experts, including the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), have shifted their opinion. They believe that the safest way to operate a motor vehicle is to always keep your hands at 9 and 3. In addition to providing a more ergonomically sound position, it gives you more control over the steering wheel. In this post, we look at some of the reasons why the new approach is safer for motorists and those they share the road with.

If you’ve been seriously hurt in a motor vehicle collision due to the negligence of another party, contact us at Valiente Mott for a free consultation. Our team of Las Vegas car accident attorneys can leverage their knowledge and experience to advocate for your right to fair and reasonable compensation.

The benefits of the 9 and 3 position

As noted above, keeping your hands at 10 and 2 is not ergonomically sound. However, 9 and 3 on the steering wheel reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries to your hands or wrists. With this position, you can reduce fatigue, which allows you to drive longer. It also offers the following benefits:

  • Optimal wheel control. Keeping your hands at 9 and 3 gives you optimal control over the steering wheel. It keeps your body stable and reduces unnecessary steering wheel movement. You are also less likely to overcorrect if you must maneuver quickly out of a dangerous situation, like a stalled car on the highway. This approach is also safer as it reduces the risk of driving with one hand.
  • Injury prevention. In addition to keeping your hands at 9 and 3, experts advise you to no longer cross your hands over each other when you complete a turn. Previously, experts suggested drivers reach one hand over another when turning their steering wheel. However, this increases the risk of injuries in a crash and interferes with airbag deployment. Instead, utilize the push-and-pull method of turning. You can rotate the steering wheel while keeping both hands in contact.

When safety measures fail, contact Valiente Mott for a free consultation

The unfortunate reality is that despite best practices, accidents can still happen. If you’ve been hurt, your best resource is our team of Las Vegas car accident lawyers at Valiente Mott, who know how to go up against big insurance companies and aggressively advocate on your behalf. Contact us today for a free consultation; there is no obligation to hire us. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront legal fees.

10 Forgotten Driving Laws: Driving is a Privilege, Not a Right!

While you may have grown accustomed to driving every day, it is important to remember that your driver’s license is a privilege—not a right. You are required to comply with a number of rules and regulations when you are behind the wheel. At Valiente Mott, we are well-versed in the 10 most forgotten driving laws in Utah, and if are seriously hurt in an accident due to the negligence of another party, schedule a free consultation with us. The laws are as follows:

1. Wear Your Seatbelt

Without a doubt, one of the traffic rules that is forgotten the most is wearing a seatbelt. State law requires drivers and passengers alike to be buckled up a all times in a moving vehicle. Drivers can also be ticketed if a passenger under the age of 19 is not wearing a seatbelt.

2. Keep your registration in your vehicle

All too often, drivers forget to have a copy of their vehicle registration with them when they are in the car.

3. Open containers of alcohol are illegal

It is not just drinking and driving that is outlawed in Utah. Even if you are sober, you cannot drive with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle with you.

4. Do not use your mobile device while driving

The law does not allow drivers to use handheld devices when their vehicle is moving. This means no texting, no answering emails, and no streaming video.

5. Teenagers require additional approval to drive

For adults, you just need a license to get behind the wheel. That is not the case for teenagers. Drivers who are 16 have to complete day and night driving hours as part of their education. They also cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. without exceptions.

6. Wear a helmet on your motorcycle

Motorcyclists must wear a helmet. This only applies to riders under the age of 21.

7. Rely on your turn signals

Some drivers have a hard time remembering when to use their turn signals. You should be signaling when you turn as well as when you make a lane change.

8. Yielding the right-of-way

You have to yield the right-of-way, especially when you come to a four-way stop. Generally, you must yield to the vehicle that arrives at the intersection first.

9. Mind your speed

Speeding is dangerous. When you travel at high speeds, you increase the risk of a collision with other motorists.

10. Insure your vehicle

Registering your vehicle is not enough. The law also requires you to carry a minimum level of liability insurance in order to operate your vehicle in Utah.

Schedule a free consultation with Valiente Mott following an accident

Despite your best efforts, following the rules of the road might not be enough to prevent an accident. If you are injured in a collision with a negligent driver, the Salt Lake City car accident lawyers of Valiente Mott is here to help. If you want to discuss your personal injury case, call us for a free consultation today.