Driving with a Sporran on

[GlassMan]

I spent 5 years in two different fire departments and by my time, even the ambulances had been upgraded to full Class B truck chassis so the steering wheel is horizontal to the body. And turning that wheel usually involved a whole body motion because it was so big and those things handle like a barge.

But, since the advent of airbags, it is now recommended that you keep your hands at the 7 o'clock & 4 o'clock positions instead of at 10 & 2. The reason? If you are in an accident with your hands at 10 & 2 and your airbag deploys it frequently breaks both of your forearms. Since airbags deploy up towards your face hands held at the lower position usually doesn't result in the same injury.

Yet, even knowing that I find that I usually wind up at the old familiar position.

[bubba]

I just slide my sporran to the left. No problem.

[Avonlea22]

Unless I have a Super Big Gulp between my legs, my sporran stays right where it's meant to be.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I just slide my sporran to the left. No problem.

Ahhhh..... southpaw, ehhh?? I prefer the right side. (When I wear a sporran that is.)

[bubba]

Nah blu. on the left doesn't get in the way of the lap belt.

[GMan]

Mine goes to the left, as the gear shift seems to get in the way.

[prattw]

I spent 5 years in two different fire departments and by my time, even the ambulances had been upgraded to full Class B truck chassis so the steering wheel is horizontal to the body. And turning that wheel usually involved a whole body motion because it was so big and those things handle like a barge.

But, since the advent of airbags, it is now recommended that you keep your hands at the 7 o'clock & 4 o'clock positions instead of at 10 & 2. The reason? If you are in an accident with your hands at 10 & 2 and your airbag deploys it frequently breaks both of your forearms. Since airbags deploy up towards your face hands held at the lower position usually doesn't result in the same injury.

Yet, even knowing that I find that I usually wind up at the old familiar position.

I was taught to drive, by my highschool driving instructor in 1960, with my hands in the 9 or 10 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions for control and my thumbs out of the wheel, tucked alongside the forefinger, to keep them in the event of the wheel whipping in an accident. Later lessons in military offroad driving reinforced the bit about the thumbs. That's a good idea about the airbag, I'll try to move my left hand to the 7 or 8 position.

Thumbs out of the wheel sounds awkward, but actually you have quite a good grip with the thumb pressed firmly against the wheel. Even though my hands wouldn't often hit my sporran, I always slide it to the left side, since it interferes with the lap belt.

Will Pratt