The Correct Sitting Position Behind The Wheel

The Correct Sitting Position for Safe Driving - Make It A Habit

Updated Dec. 25, 2020

The importance of sitting correctly while driving cannot be overstated. Maintaining a proper sitting position will afford you maximum control over the vehicle and will minimize the chance of being injured or killed during a collision. Modern vehicles are engineered with sophisticated safety features, which are designed to be effective in collision scenarios where the driver is sat up straight, positioned high enough to see over the steering wheel, and is squarely in front of it. If you do not maintain this position while driving, your vehicle’s safety features may not be able to protect you.

Seat height
Distance from the steering wheel
Adjusting the driver’s seat
Adjusting the headrests
Make proper positioning a habit

Seat height

While sat back in the driver’s seat, your shoulders should never be more than one inch lower than the top of the steering wheel. Sitting too low in relation to the steering wheel will restrict your view of the road and increase the risk of sustaining fatal head injuries during a collision.

Most vehicles have height-adjustable seats and/or adjustable steering columns to help you position yourself at the right height relative to the steering wheel. If your vehicle does not have either of these features and the wheel is more than one inch higher than the top of your shoulders, you may need to sit on a wedge-shaped driver’s cushion to achieve a safe position.

Distance from the steering wheel

Sitting too close to the steering wheel will increase your risk of injury should the airbag deploy during a crash. Being too far away can also be dangerous, as it may hinder your ability to steer effectively and control the vehicle. To position yourself at the correct distance from the steering wheel, sit back in the driver’s seat and extend your arm straight forward, toward the wheel. You should then adjust the wheel or seat position until your wrist is lined-up with the top of the steering wheel.

Adjusting the driver’s seat

Never attempt to adjust the driver’s seat height or distance from the pedals while actively driving the vehicle. Most modern vehicles are designed with electronic controls to make it easy for drivers to alter their seat position. Older vehicles tend to have manual levers that are fixed to the front or side of the seat itself.

However your car’s seat adjustment controls work, always make sure you are safely stopped before making any changes. While the vehicle is in motion, you must be fully focused on scanning for hazards and controlling the car. You will not be able to do this effectively if you are also messing with the position of your seat. Plus, you run the risk of inadvertently moving too far away from the pedals and losing control of the vehicle.

Adjusting the headrests

When correctly positioned, the driver’s seat headrest will support your head in the event of a rear-end collision. Whiplash neck injuries are common in rear-end collisions, as the vehicle occupants’ heads are thrown backward with considerable force when the car is struck from behind. Having your headrest at the correct height will minimize the chances of such injuries occurring.

The front surface of the headrest must be in contact with the back of your head in order to support it correctly; your headrest is too low if it only connects with the base of your skull. For ideal positioning, aim to set the top of the headrest at roughly the same height as your ears.

Make proper positioning a habit

It’s all too easy to get lazy with your sitting position as you gain more experience as a driver. Remember that you are always at risk of being injured if you are not sat correctly, whether you have been driving for ten minutes or ten years. As you learn to drive, take a moment to check your position every time you get into the car. This will help you to form solid safety habits that will continue to protect you for years to come.

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Safety Engineering

While visual appeal is a key driving force behind a car’s design, modern vehicle manufacturers place far more emphasis on engineering for safety to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. Looking at your average modern car, it is difficult to grasp just how much thought, time and money has been spent making it as safe as possible for the driver and passengers that will occupy it.

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Driver Assistance Systems

In an effort to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and serious injuries caused by driver-error, car manufacturers are developing and implementing computerized driver assistance systems, which take some vehicle-control and hazard-perception responsibilities away from the driver. Fewer responsibilities mean fewer opportunities for driver-error and in theory, fewer collisions.

The Essentials 1 of 7

Essential Components

Climbing into the driver’s seat for the very first time can be an exciting yet somewhat overwhelming experience. In this unfamiliar environment, you will be surrounded by controls, dials, switches, levers, lights and symbols. How are you supposed to negotiate all these gadgets, drive the car and pay attention to the road at the same time?

Review

Driving Under The Influence of Drugs 10 of 10

Drug-Induced Driving Impairment

All drugs can have an adverse effect on your physical and mental driving skills. As a novice driver, you must be aware that you can be stopped and arrested for DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) if you are impaired by any drug. This is true for prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as recreational substances.

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The Vehicle

In order to drive efficiently and react to changing roadway conditions in a timely manner, you need to be extremely familiar with the internal and external layout of your car. Having a good connection with your vehicle will make you a better driver.

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Car Safety Systems

While driving is still an inherently dangerous activity, the car you drive now is considerably safer than the cars people were driving 30 or 40 years ago. We’re going to discuss vehicle safety standards, new developments in safety technology and the myriad of ways in which your car has been built to protect you.

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Seat Belts

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted seat belt laws requiring vehicle occupants to buckle up. You should always wear a seat belt and ensure your passengers have secured theirs, before setting off on any journey. It has been proven beyond doubt that seat belts save lives.

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Child Restraints

In all states, the driver of a passenger vehicle is legally responsible for making sure that all children beneath a certain age are safely secured in an appropriate restraint. The penalties incurred for failing to properly restrain a child passenger are different in every state. Most states issue a fine of up to $100 for first offenses. For repeat offenders, this may increase to $1,000 or more.

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Air Bags

During moderate to severe collisions, airbags will rapidly deploy and inflate, to cushion your body and reduce the severity of the impact. Airbag technology has advanced considerably since the safety feature was first introduced in the 1960s. Every year, airbags save thousands of lives.