Yes, hand-over-hand steering is legal and an accepted method in Australia, alongside the pull-push (or push-pull) technique, as long as you maintain proper vehicle control, which is the primary legal requirement. While some driving instructors or experts prefer pull-push for airbag safety, hand-over-hand is recognized for sharp turns and maneuvers, with the key being smooth transitions and keeping hands on the wheel for control, not crossing them permanently.
Hand-over-hand steering is a type of steering that makes you put one hand across the other when making a turn. The two other types of steering techniques are hand-to-hand and one-hand. You are allowed to use hand-over-hand steering in driving tests as long as you can safely steer your vehicle.
Legal car mods in Australia focus on safety and compliance with Australian Design Rules (ADRs), allowing many cosmetic and minor performance upgrades (like tint, wheels, basic exhausts, vinyl wraps) but requiring engineering certification for major changes (engine swaps, significant suspension lifts, chassis mods) to ensure safety, roadworthiness, and compliance with noise/emissions standards, with specific rules varying slightly by state.
You should put your hands at 9 and 3, not 10 and 2, because modern airbags make the older 10 and 2 position dangerous, potentially injuring your hands and arms, while 9 and 3 offers better control and safety, especially for emergency maneuvers. The 10 and 2 position was for cars without power steering and airbags; now, 9 and 3 is considered standard for superior control and airbag safety.
You can cross your hands as long as they don't REMAIN crossed. In fact, this is a technique for turning the steering wheel, called "hand over hand" technique or "cross and over" technique. Jeremy explains the difference between crossing hands and the acceptable hand over hand technique.
Australia has clear rules about when a car horn can and cannot be used. Unnecessarily beeping one's car horn is considered a traffic offence, for which drivers can cop a fine ranging from $50 to more than $400, depending on where you live.
Parallel parking, often considered the toughest driving test manoeuvre, requires mastering clutch control, accurate distance judgement, and speed management, especially in manual cars. It also involves monitoring pedestrians and other vehicles, which can be challenging in busy areas.
Never cross your hands on the steering wheel while driving. The most common time for crossing your arms would be while making a turn. Even though this might seem most natural and easiest, it leaves the driver vulnerable.
Guidelines from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, however, now suggest that your hands be at “9 and 3” to reduce the risk of injury to your hands and arms if airbags deploy. As this image shows, drivers also should place their thumbs on the top rather than wrapping them around the wheel.
The 9 and 3 o'clock position also allows drivers to change lanes safely because they can go 180 degrees either way and arrive back at the center. It's also better for your arms and hands and reduces fatigue, making it the ideal hand position for a long drive.
Australia's "25-Year Rule" allows importing classic and collectible vehicles (cars, motorcycles, light commercials) older than 25 years, under the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) laws, by obtaining a Concessional RAV (Register of Approved Vehicles) approval to avoid strict compliance with modern Australian Design Rules (ADRs). This "rolling" rule means the vehicle must be at least 25 years old at the time of application, simplifying imports for enthusiasts but still requiring compliance with ADRs relevant to its original build year, plus some modifications for safety like VINs or child restraints.
Australian Road Rule 72 dictates that at intersections without traffic lights or stop/give way signs, drivers must give way to vehicles approaching from the right, slowing down and stopping if necessary to avoid a collision. This applies to standard intersections, but T-intersections, roundabouts, and intersections with specific signs or lights have different rules, and you must also give way to pedestrians or cyclists crossing the road you're entering.
Australian Road Rule 20 (ARR 20) is a foundational rule stating that a driver must not drive at a speed exceeding the applicable speed limit for the length of road they are on, with subsequent rules defining what those limits are (e.g., signs, school zones, shared zones) and specifying that drivers must obey them. It sets the general principle of adhering to posted speed limits or default limits where none are indicated, emphasizing that exceeding them is illegal and subject to penalties like fines and demerit points, with severe cases leading to license suspension or vehicle impoundment.
The most common driving test fails center around poor observation (not checking mirrors/blind spots), speeding/speed control, failing to obey signs/lights (rolling through stops, ignoring signals), incorrect road positioning, and errors during maneuvers like parallel parking. Nerves, stalling, and not giving way to hazards or other traffic are also major reasons for failing.
In the past, drivers were told to place “hand over hand” while turning the steering wheel. This is no longer the case. The proper way to make a turn uses the “push-pull” rule. As you turn the wheel to the right or left, one hand will pull the wheel down as the other hand pushes the wheel up.
When you teach a child a new skill with hand-over-hand, they are learning how to do that skill with someone moving their hands. This is a much harder type of prompt to fade out than other types of prompts, because most likely the child isn't really learning, they are simply having their hands moved.
One of the biggest reasons is airbag safety. When an airbag deploys, it comes out fast and forcefully, often at speeds of 200 miles per hour. With your hands at the 10 and 2 position, your arms are more likely to be thrown into your face or chest when the airbag deploys. This can lead to serious injuries.
To signal left, you push the lever down. To signal right, you push the lever up. An easy way to remember this: just push the lever with your left hand in the direction you will be moving the steering wheel.
Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test
It's well-known among driving instructors as the driving test superfood, for the following reasons – bananas are full of B vitamins, which help calm the nerves. They contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into seratonin, the 'happy hormone' – which will keep your mood upbeat.