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

The ballot measure requires a motorist’s driving record, years behind the wheel and annual miles driven to be the primary factors in setting rates, relegating residency to a relatively minor role — which advocates said is only a matter of fairness. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Witnesses described a man behind the wheel of a tan or gold Nissan Frontier doing donuts in parking lots, nearly hitting other vehicles and possibly striking curbs and a retaining wall, according to police. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

The first thing that stands out about the 2026 Honda Pilot behind the wheel is its engaging driving dynamics. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Patton was arrested in a traffic stop in mid-July in the city's Dinkytown district, with Depratto behind the wheel at the time and three others inside. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 27 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