Hand position, following distance and blind spots

Key points

1. Place your hands at the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions on the steering wheel.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “If your steering wheel were a clock, your hands should be at the 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock positions.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 14

2. Following distance on dry roads is 2 seconds under 35 mph, 3 seconds at 35 to 45 mph, and 4 seconds at 46 to 70 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “2 seconds Under 35 MPH 3 seconds 35-45 MPH 4 seconds 46-70 MPH”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 19

3. Count the seconds from when the car ahead passes a fixed object until you reach it; if you reach it too soon, you are too close.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “If you reach the mark before you have counted off two, three, or four seconds, depending on speed, you’re following too closely.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 19

4. Add extra seconds in bad weather, heavy traffic, on poor pavement, or if your vehicle is in poor condition.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “For bad weather conditions, heavy traffic, poor pavement or if your vehicle is in poor condition, add extra seconds to increase your following distance.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 19

5. If you are tailgated, do not brake suddenly; change lanes or tap your brakes and slow down.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “If you find yourself in this situation, do not brake suddenly. If possible, move over to another lane, or gently tap your brakes to flash your brake lights and slow down.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 19

6. Expert drivers focus 20 to 30 seconds ahead, about one block in the city.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Expert drivers try to focus their eyes 20 to 30 seconds ahead. In the city, that equals approximately one block.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 19

7. Check your rearview mirror about every 10 seconds.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Use your rearview mirror to check the traffic behind you frequently, about every 10 seconds.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 19

8. At an intersection, look left first, then right, then left again.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “At any intersection, look to the left first, since cars coming from the left will be closer to you. Then look to the right and take one more quick look to the left before you drive through.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 19

9. The best way to check a blind spot is to quickly turn your head and glance over your shoulder.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “The best way to see a car in your blind spot is by quickly turning your head and glancing over your shoulder”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 20

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Virginia practice test

1. 1. Where does Virginia's manual say to place your hands on the steering wheel?

   1. At 10 and 2
   2. One hand at 12 o'clock
   3. At 12 and 6
   4. At the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, holding with fingers and thumbs
   Show answer

   At the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, holding with fingers and thumbs. Sit straight but relaxed, and if the steering wheel were a clock your hands should be at the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions. Hold the wheel with your fingers and thumbs rather than gripping with your palms. The lower hand position keeps your arms clear of a deploying air bag and gives smooth control for the hand over hand and push pull steering methods.

2. 2. On a dry road at 46 to 70 MPH, what following distance does the manual use?

   1. One second
   2. Ten seconds
   3. Two seconds
   4. Four seconds
   Show answer

   Four seconds. The four second interval applies to speeds from 46 through 70 MPH on a dry surface. It gives a driver time to steer and brake around a developing problem. Two seconds belongs to speeds under 35 MPH, while the ten option “Four seconds” is not the manual's listed interval. Do not treat the number as a fixed car length because speed changes how far the vehicle travels. Count from a fixed roadside object as the vehicle ahead passes it.

3. 3. Which method does the manual recommend for judging whether you are following too closely?

   1. Keep exactly one car length at every speed
   2. Use the rearview mirror without looking ahead
   3. Count the seconds between the vehicle ahead and a fixed object
   4. Match the lead vehicle's braking distance by sight
   Show answer

   Count the seconds between the vehicle ahead and a fixed object. Use a time gap, not a fixed number of car lengths. Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed object, then count until your vehicle reaches the same mark. The manual gives two, three, or four seconds depending on speed and says to add more time for bad weather, heavy traffic, poor pavement, or a vehicle in poor condition. One car length cannot adjust for speed, and mirror-only observation misses the road ahead.

Source: the Virginia Driver's Manual, Section 3: Safe Driving. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.