Ever since I was involved in an accident where the air bags deployed, I no longer hold the steering wheel at the recommended 10 and 2 positions. The air bags threw my arms up and back causing injury to my shoulders. Do you think its time to change that recommendation?
As usual, the answer isn't simple. It depends.
For 90% driving down the road obviously (as you found out) we now need to keep our arms out of the way so the airbags don't de-limb us.
But for sharp turning or fast steering manoeuvres , it's just nonsense. I'm still going to turn the wheel the most efficient way. I would rather avoid a hazard altogether, than turn slower so I can prepare to have my arms twisted out of their sockets.
Nhtsa now recommends 9 and 3
The NHTSA recommendation for hand placement on the steering wheel was changed over 10 years ago as you can read in this article by NBC news dated March 11, 2012.
https://www.nbcnews.com/businessmain/get-times-youre-driving-all-wrong-518710
But in a recent search of the NHTSA guidelines, the following is advised:
No.
The way airbags deploy it seems any hand position may get in the way of the airbag.
Steering wheel position recommendation is meant for reaction time, not whether the driver's arm would be thrown in any direction. Professional car racers always keep their hands at 9 and 3 position for best reaction time. This position makes your arms more tired than the 10 and 2 position. However, you need to keep in mind that professional drivers have to focus at all time to win, so arm tiredness isn't the thing they worry about. They are already trained to overcome it.
10 and 2 is recommended for daily driving because it is the most comfortable position for the daily driver because, of course, you should not be racing on public streets, even if you mentally imagine you are a pro driver in your sport car and you're the man of the hood.
If you compare at the positions of your arms between 9-3 and 10-2, it is easier to push your body back in the seat at 10-2 than 9-3 when you know you are about to head-on a vehicle or an object. I don't want to, but if I had to choose between an arm injury and a head injury, I'd pick the former all day long.
