Final answer:
The proper way to hold a steering wheel is at the '9 and 3' positions, analogous to a clock, for better control and safety. When driving on an ideally banked curve, the force exerted by the car seat should not throw the driver to the side.
Step-by-step explanation:
When driving, the recommended position to place your hands on the wheel is often referred to as '9 and 3' based on the analogy of a clock face where the left hand is at the 9 o'clock position and the right hand is at the 3 o'clock position. This position is advised as it provides greater control of the vehicle and allows for quick and more balanced reactions if you need to maneuver the car suddenly. It also diminishes the risk of injury in case the airbag deploys as the arms are less likely to be thrown towards the driver's face.
In terms of force exertion during driving, specifically when negotiating a curve that is ideally banked for your car's speed, you may not feel yourself thrown to either side significantly because the forces are balanced. The direction of the force exerted on you by the car seat would, theoretically, be towards the center of the curve, helping to keep you stable in your seat. However, if you are in a vehicle that is not ideally banked for the curve or traveling at a different speed, you would feel the force pushing you towards the outer side of the curve due to centripetal force.
This principle of proprioceptive feedback is also present when conducting a Field Sobriety Test (FST), where the driver may be asked to touch their fingertip to their nose with their eyes closed to assess their ability to sense the position of their body parts without visual feedback. This can highlight effects of alcohol on coordination. Furthermore, when working with high-power electric circuits, it is advised to work 'one-handed' to reduce the risk of electric current passing through the heart, which could be fatal. This safety measure is taken to prevent completing a circuit across the chest with both hands.