behind the wheel

phrase

: in the act of driving

I was nervous my first time behind the wheel.

He urged drivers to stop and rest if they feel tired behind the wheel.

—Yaron Steinbuch

… will start enforcing a requirement for commercial truck drivers travelling between provinces to track their hours behind the wheel …

—Karina Zapata

Examples of behind the wheel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thomas Lobianco, 26, of Lake Ronkonkoma, who was allegedly behind the wheel, was arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Deputies then found Nash unconscious behind the wheel of the SUV covered in blood. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Real readiness comes from time behind the wheel, merging into fast-moving lanes, reacting to other drivers’ mistakes and making good decisions when conditions are less than ideal. — David Etue, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Historically, the safety standards were drafted around a premise that a human being would always be behind the wheel. — New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for behind the wheel

• automobile
• periosteal
• peritoneal
• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal