System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving deployment of an airbag by controlling a steering wheel in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying at least a hand position for one or more hands of the operator on the steering wheel using orientation data acquired from at least one sensor of the vehicle. The method includes determining, as a function of at least the hand position, a mitigation action associated with deploying the airbag. The method includes, in response to detecting that deployment of the airbag is imminent, controlling the steering wheel according to the mitigation action.