Learn more about outdated practices that, despite working once upon a time, are no longer practical.
Outdated Practice I: The “10 and 2” Hand Rule
The “10 and 2” hand placement rule, which dictates that drivers should keep their hands at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions on the steering wheel, has become outdated mainly because of airbag advances.
In the event of a collision, airbags deploy at high speeds, and having hands in the “10 and 2” position can lead to severe arm, hand, or facial injuries as the airbag forces the driver’s hands into their face.
Consequently, safety experts now recommend the “9 and 3” hand position or even the “8 and 4” position. These placements offer better control, reduce the potential for airbag deployment injury, and help lessen driver fatigue on long drives.
Outdated Practice II: Two-Second Spacing
The once popular “two-second spacing” rule, which advised drivers to maintain a two-second gap between their vehicle and the one in front, is now considered insufficient by modern driving standards.
Advances in vehicle braking systems have significantly improved, but so have distractions inside the car. Safety experts recommend that drivers calculate the distance between cars by car length rather than seconds, maintaining a distance of two car lengths when following other vehicles (about three or four seconds).
Ensure even more space between vehicles in poor visibility and road conditions.
Outdated Practice III: The “Hand-Over-Hand” Rule
The “Hand-Over-Hand” steering technique, where one hand pulls the wheel down while the other crosses over to pull the wheel further, was taught for decades as the ideal way to negotiate tight turns or when parking.
However, with the advent of power steering in modern vehicles, this aggressive maneuvering is no longer necessary and can hinder smooth driving control.
Instead, drivers are encouraged to use the “push-pull” technique. This method involves pushing the steering wheel up with one hand and pulling it down with the other, ensuring hands remain on opposite sides of the wheel.
Outdated Practice IV: Heating Up the Engine
Heating the engine before driving, especially in cold weather, was once a widely advocated practice that was believed to be beneficial for the car’s performance. In the era of carbureted engines, this method allowed engine oil to warm up and circulate properly, ensuring the vehicle operated efficiently.
However, this practice has become obsolete with the advent of modern fuel-injected engines. Today’s engines are designed to operate and warm up more efficiently while driving rather than idling. Prolonged idling to heat the engine now is unnecessary, wastes fuel, and contributes to air pollution.
There are plenty of outdated driver safety practices many drivers learned as teenagers that aren’t practical for modern driving anymore. Mystery and confusion surrounding automobiles have always been and remain quite common; there are misguided misconceptions regarding remanufactured replacement parts and myths about the best driving habits for fuel efficiency, to name a few!
Ultimately, it is our responsibility as drivers to educate ourselves and adapt to changing times for the safety of ourselves and others on the road.
Image Credit: FILE #: 188546590 By gorynvd
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