Many people enjoy driving, but if you have to drive regularly on a longer route, you must ensure proper driving position and posture. If you drive sitting in the wrong position or with the wrong posture you might encounter sore shoulders, stiff neck and a severe backache. Nevertheless, all these daily commute woes can be avoided following the best driving position practices. Let’s go through the details.
How to Find the Perfect Driving Position
Over time driving your car with a bad posture can lead to chronic body aches. That said, following the best driving position practices can save you from all aches and susceptible injuries. According to experts, the perfect driving position has your hips higher than your knees. This assists your shoulder blades offering more range for adjustment. Here are the steps to follow for the best driving position.
Support your Back
Your tailbone should be really close to the driving seat back. For the optimal driving seat position, slide it forward till your knees are bent slightly while you press the accelerator. Keeping the knees slightly bent while driving your car prevents you from knee pain.
A two- to three-finger gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat is good enough. You should also keep your head straight, arms slightly bent and back straight.
Besides, if your car doesn’t allow adjusting the best driving position, using a back cushion or lumbar will help.
Lean Back a Little for Back Support
Another way to get the best driving position is to lean back a little. Make sure your seat angle is a little over than a perpendicular 90 degrees. Case in point: at 100 to 110 degrees, the seat will put the least amount of pressure on your back.
Leaning really far back while driving forces you to push your head and neck forward. This can cause chronic shoulder and neck pain and send a tingling feeling in your fingers.
Adjusting the driver’s seat correctly is important. If you must lean forward, move your backrest higher. You are in a proper driving posture if your arms are slightly bent when holding the steering wheel.
Lift the Hip
To attain the best driving position, adjust the seat pan (the part that drivers sit on) that supports thighs along the entire length, and your knees are a tad bit lower than your hips. This will help increase circulation to your back.
Do not Sit Too Close to the Steering
Some nervous drivers move the driving seat really close to the steering. This is not a good practice. Just make sure you sit in such a position that your feet reach the accelerator and brake pedals comfortably and can press them through their full range.
Always keep your safety in check when driving. According to a study, car drivers with chests closer to the wheel are significantly more likely to suffer from severe head, neck and chest injuries in the unforeseen circumstance of a front- and rear-end collision.
Adjust the Seat Height
As mentioned earlier, your hips should be a little higher than your knees. Use the seat controls and raise your seat. Make sure the height is such that you can easily see out of the windshield and windows. If adjusting the seat height isn’t possible, use a cushion to raise the height.
Adjust the Headrest
Adjust the headrest so that it is set between the top of your ears and head to find the best driving position to drive a car. The headrest should only touch the back of your head when sitting comfortably. The headrest also plays an important role in reducing whiplash injuries in case of a rear-end collision.
Make Use of Lumbar Support if Necessary
If you own a car with adjustable lumbar support features, use it. You can make use of the up-down and front-back controls, alike. This lumbar support adjustment results in an even pressure from your hips all the way to your shoulders. That said, if your vehicle doesn’t offer automatic support, you can use a lumbar pillow. A rolled-up towel also helps to meet the purpose.
Adjust Car Mirrors Properly
To prevent neck strains, make sure the rear-view and side mirrors are properly adjusted. Proper wing mirror adjustment is when you can see the traffic behind you without craning your neck.
Correct Hands Position on the Steering
Another way to obtain a good driving posture is by making sure your hands are positioned properly on the steering wheel. A 10 and 2 position where you hold the upper part of the steering wheel or a 9 and 3 position where you hold the steering wheel from the middle are the correct positions.
Take Breaks
Even when your driving posture is perfect, daily commute can exhaust you, especially with long drives. To make sure your body isn’t fatigued, listen to it and take periodic breaks when you feel it is really tired. Park at a rest stop or any other designated stopping area safely, get out of your car and stretch to relax your body before resuming your commute.
That is all about finding the best driving posture for yourself. Besides, if you are looking for a car with an increased height or automatic seat control features, go through this list of suitable cars for people with back pains. Moreover, here is a list of used cars for sale in the UAE. You will find a plethora of cars here offering various useful specs and features.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more on car DIY solutions, tips for car drivers, car safety and more.
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