How to adjust the sitting position properly when driving a car

A suitable sitting position when driving a car not only brings comfort but also helps the driver react better, increases safety and reduces the risk of accidents.

Adjusting the driving position properly is one of the first things to do when driving a car. For experienced drivers, taking a little time to adjust the driver's seat, steering wheel, etc. has become an immutable rule when getting into the driver's seat.

However, in reality, many drivers, especially new drivers, often perform these steps carelessly and do not even know how to adjust to create the most suitable driving position. The following are suggestions to help drivers adjust the driver's seat and steering wheel to create a comfortable, suitable sitting position when driving a car:

Adjust the driver's seat

In addition to mechanical adjustment, the electric driver's seat adjustment function is now commonly equipped on car models, making it easier to adjust the sitting position. When sitting in the driver's seat, you should sit up straight, ensuring that your buttocks and back are square and always leaning against the seat. This will help you avoid back pain and maintain comfort throughout the driving process.

Driver's seat distance: To ensure the most correct seat distance adjustment, you should start the car and then press the brake pedal a few times. This will help you get used to the brake pedal travel, thereby adjusting the most appropriate distance. Adjust so that your right foot can fully press the accelerator and brake, your knee is bent at an angle of about 120 degrees. Do not adjust the driver's seat too far, this will cause your knee to straighten, thereby reducing the effect of the lever force and losing the feeling of the brake and accelerator pedal travel. On the contrary, if the driver's seat is too close, the knee will touch the dashboard, hindering your operation.

Driver's seat backrest: To adjust the seat backrest angle, you should sit up straight, leaning back in the seat, holding the top of the steering wheel. Then adjust the seat backrest angle so that your arms are parallel to the floor, then the seat backrest angle is most suitable.

Seat height: To adjust the seat height, the driver should look straight ahead. Through the control button, adjust the seat cushion height in turn to provide a wide, best-covered view, while the elbows just touch the door sill, the knees do not touch the bottom edge of the steering wheel when the driver pulls his legs close to the seat.

Headrest: This is a detail that many drivers often ignore when adjusting the driver's seat because they think it is not very effective. This comes from incorrect adjustment of the headrest. Users should adjust so that the top edge of the headrest is level with the eyes, the distance from the headrest to the nape of the neck is about 2-3 cm. This will help the driver avoid neck fatigue, and will also partly avoid injury in the event of an accident.

Some modern car models have a built-in driver's seat memory function. Users should combine seat adjustment with the use of the seat memory function to create comfort and convenience when getting in and out of the car.

Adjust steering wheel

The steering wheel position adjustment button is usually located on the steering wheel shaft. The driver only needs to press the navigation button (for vehicles equipped with electric steering wheel) or pull the lever (mechanical steering wheel) to adjust the distance, height, and low of the steering wheel.

Imagine the steering wheel as a clock. To create the most comfortable driving position, the driver should hold the steering wheel at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions. This position will help the forearms to bend less, the shoulders and back will be less tired and more comfortable. In addition, the driver should also adjust the distance from the steering wheel axis, the steering wheel holding position to the shoulder and chest to about 25 - 30 cm, while the elbow creates a 120 degree angle. With this distance, in the event of a collision, the airbag will operate effectively and minimize injuries to the driver.

In addition, combined with the view from the driver's seat, you should adjust the height of the steering wheel so that the steering wheel axis is parallel to the seat backrest and ensure visibility of the clock displaying the vehicle's operating parameters.

According to TNO