How to Control Steering for Smooth Turns and Maneuvers

Mastering steering control on the WA driving test is about much more than just knowing which way to turn the wheel. It’s about demonstrating to your examiner that you are in complete, smooth, and predictable control of the vehicle at all times.

Jerky movements, improper hand positions, or fumbling with the wheel during a maneuver are instant red flags for an examiner. They see a driver who lacks coordination and confidence, which can quickly lead to deductions on your examiner control scoring. This guide will cover the correct techniques to ensure your steering is smooth, safe, and pass-worthy.

Why Steering Technique Affects Scoring

The Washington State DOL Skills Test evaluates your ability to “use the gas pedal, brake, steering wheel, and other controls correctly.” Steering is the most visible indicator of this control.

Your examiner is looking for:

• Smoothness: Can you make turns without jerking the wheel or “sawing” at it?
• Accuracy: Does the car go exactly where you intend it to, without drifting or cutting a corner too sharply?
• Confidence: Do you look ahead through the turn, or are you looking down at your hands?
• Recovery: Do you let the wheel slide back smoothly or do you let go of it completely?

Proper smooth steering techniques show that you are connected to the vehicle and thinking ahead, which is a core component of defensive driving.

Correct Hand Positions for All Turns

While the old “10 and 2” position is what many parents remember, modern standards have been updated due to airbags. The recommended safe hand position driving exam standard is 9 and 3 or 8 and 4. This keeps your arms out of the airbag’s deployment path.

When it comes to turning, you have two primary, accepted methods:

1. Hand-Over-Hand: This is best for sharp, low-speed turns (like turning at an intersection or performing a skills test maneuver).
   • Start at 9 and 3.
   • To turn right, slide your left hand down to about the 7 o’clock position
   • Your left hand pushes the wheel up toward 12 o’clock, then your right hand holds the wheel in place while you reposition your left hand
   • If the turn continues to tighten, you reposition your left hand back to the 7 o’clock position, pushing back to the 12 o’clock position, repeating as necessary
   • Crucially, control the straightening of the steering wheel by controlling the speed at which the wheel turns as the front wheels straighten when you accelerate out of the turn.
2. Push-Guide (Improved version of tradition Push-Pull or Hand-to-Hand): This is for gentler turns and curves, like on a winding road.
   • To turn right, your left hand pushes from 8 to 10, while your right hand acts as a guide on the wheel.
   • Your right hand then pushes the wheel back to straight as needed for your path of travelUsing your off-hand to push in the direction you want to go allows for much more accurate steering inputs then pulling the wheel down.Your hands never cross the top or bottom of the wheel. It’s a smoother, more stable method for general driving.

Common Oversteering and Understeering Errors

These are the most common oversteering mistakes learners make, which examiners spot immediately:

• Oversteering: This is when you turn the wheel too much for the turn. On the Skills Test, this often happens when a new driver panics. They’ll turn the wheel sharply, causing the car to lurch, and then have to jerk it back in the other direction to correct. This shows a clear lack of control.
• Understeering: This is when you don’t turn the wheel enough. This is a very common error on right-hand turns, where a learner will run wide. It can also happen on left-hand turns, where they turn too wide and end up in the wrong lane.

WMST Instructor Tips for Better Vehicle Control

At WMST, we focus on building coordination through our superior, hands-on training. Our instructors provide WMST driver practice that is designed to eliminate these common errors.

Our curriculum, built on national best practices, ensures you get the repetition you need. We guarantee six full hours of actual behind-the-wheel driving—not time spent on ineffective simulations. This one-on-one instruction allows our trainers to instantly correct bad habits. They will drill you on smooth steering and recovery until it becomes an automatic, coordinated response. This is how you build the muscle memory and confidence to demonstrate complete control to your examiner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do examiners look at my hand position? 

Yes. While they may not deduct points just for having your hands at “10 and 2,” they are absolutely looking to see if you have both hands on the wheel and are using an accepted, safe steering method (like hand-over-hand). One-handed steering (except when backing) is a major error.

Can I cross my hands during turns? 

No.  One hand will end up over the other hand on sharp turns, but your arms should never cross.,

What happens if I lose steering control briefly? 

It depends on the severity. If you slightly oversteer but correct it smoothly and safely, you may only get a small point deduction. If you jerk the wheel, drive over a curb, or cause the examiner to feel unsafe, it could be grounds for an automatic failure.

Is steering checked separately from lane discipline? 

They are directly related. Scoring for steering is based on how you use the wheel, while lane discipline is the result. Poor steering (the cause) leads to poor lane discipline (the effect), and you will likely be marked down for both.

How does WMST help learners improve coordination? 

WMST’s curriculum is built on hands-on practice. We provide six full hours of in-car training with an instructor, which is far more effective than the simulators other schools use. This real-world practice builds the muscle memory and hand-eye coordination needed to steer, accelerate, and brake smoothly as one fluid motion.