Although almost everyone does it all the time, when trying to pantomime it without visual feedback, we essentially always forget to turn back to straight and just something like a 45° turn.
The wheel turns back to straight on it’s own with application of acceleration. You don’t turn it back, you let it slide through your hands under light control as the front wheels smoothly reach forward alignment… Whoever did this research doesn’t drive.
I don’t think they’re talking about turning the wheel back to straight but rather straightening the car relative to the road. If you turn away from your imaginary lane and just let the wheel go back to straight, you’re essentially driving off the road at an angle. To stay on the road you need to turn again in the opposite direction first and then let the wheel go back to straight. The article says we usually forget to readjust when miming the action.
The wheel turns back to straight but not the vehicle, so going straight after you’ve turned the wheel to the left keeps you pointed left. If you increase the magnitude of the lane change, i.e. turn it very left then arrow the wheel to return to straight on its own, you have made a left turn. A lane change in more of a dog leg. You’ve really proved their point, but don’t feel bad about it. Most people can’t even pantomime it.
They might drive but they certainly dont think about driving.
