How do you adjust your steering wheel and seat?car? At first glance - this is a very simple question. And most drivers, without thinking, answer that they are simply doing it so that it is convenient. But do the concepts of "comfortable" and "correct" always coincide? Unfortunately, no. Habitual landing and correct landing - often completely different things. Why is the correct landing behind the wheel so important?
Feminine posture
Oddly enough, the driver's seat is inseparableis related to driving safety. Unfortunately, driving schools pay very little attention to this. That's why "half-educated wizards" hit the road. That's why almost all trainings to improve driving skills begin with an analysis of the driver's seating position. Why? It's very simple. What do they mean when they say "correct" seating position? It means that the driver sits in such a way that the vehicle's controls - all these levers, pedals, steering wheel, etc. - are located so that he does not have to reach for them. This means that in a critical situation, the driver will need much less time to react. Often, these precious seconds save his life and that of his passengers. In addition, having trained yourself to sit correctly, you will soon be surprised to notice that you become much less tired behind the wheel. And driving will begin to bring you real pleasure. There is one more thing. Doctors say that incorrect seating position - especially if the car is your "second home" and you spend a lot of time in it - it can lead to serious health problems. Firstly, you may start to have severe back pain. After all, if you sit in the seat incorrectly, you involuntarily overload one of the sections of the spine - either the lumbar or cervical. Secondly, you may start to have joint pain and headaches. Let's say all this is more relevant to professional drivers... But! You probably don't want to spend 2-3 hours behind the wheel - for example, when going to the country - and feel like an "old wreck" for the rest of the day and grab your back and head alternately? Agree, there is little pleasure. So how can you avoid all these troubles? The correct position behind the wheel of a car is a solution, if not to all, then at least to many problems. Of course, each person has their own body type, their own parameters. Height, weight, length of arms and legs - all this is very individual. Therefore, there are simply no uniform rules for adjusting the seat and steering wheel - i.e. no one will tell you that the seat should be raised so many centimeters from the floor and be at such and such a distance from the steering wheel. So how to set everything up correctly? It's very simple! You should focus not on centimeters, but on the position of your arms, legs, back and head.
Head and body position
The back should be pressed as tightly as possiblethe back of the chair, and the back of the head is in line with the spine. It has been established that this position allows you to concentrate longer. The back of a properly adjusted chair should be almost vertical - only a slight tilt is possible. Pay attention to how the headrest is fixed. The main task of this "part" is to protect the back of the head from possible damage in an emergency. Therefore, it should be installed in such a way that it is at the level of the upper part of your ear.
Hand position
Imagine the steering wheel as a diala large clock, and your hands are the hands. Place both hands on the steering wheel. The wrist of your right hand should correspond to the imaginary number two, the wrist of your left hand - ten. Did you manage to do this without lifting your back from the back of the driver's seat? Then you are sitting correctly. Let's do one more check. Touch your wrist to the "number 12". Didn't have to reach? Well, then everything is definitely in order. It is also desirable that when driving, the hands do not rise above shoulder level. Therefore, if possible, try to adjust the height of the steering column. When driving, your hands should be located on the "numbers" ten and two or nine and three. You need to turn the steering wheel with both hands, intercepting. Make sure that when turning the steering wheel 180 degrees your hands do not cross - then you can be sure that you will not break your nails, fingers or “lose” the steering wheel if the car shakes on an uneven road.
The position of the legs and the adjustment of mirrors
In order to determine the correct positionyou need to get comfortable in the seat and press the clutch pedal all the way down. Your left leg should be slightly bent at the knee. Make sure your feet don’t touch the steering wheel. You should press the pedals with the middle of your foot. This is the most comfortable and proven position. This way your foot won’t slip and, if necessary, you can easily move it from one pedal to another. Make sure your legs aren’t tense — for this, your thigh should rest on the seat. There should be about a palm’s width between the edge of your car seat and the inside of your knee — the bend. Are you comfortable? Now you need to adjust the rearview mirrors. The middle part of the rear window should be reflected in the inside mirror. It is clear that, depending on the size of the mirror, you will see the rear window either completely or partially. In the outside mirror, you should see the road behind the car, the horizon, a bit of the sky, and a small part of the side of your car. Is that comfortable? Now you need to check everything again. Fasten your seat belt. Put your feet on the pedals and your hands on the steering wheel in the same way you will be driving. Make sure that the dashboard is clearly visible and that none of the instruments are blocked by the steering wheel. At the same time, lift your arms and legs off the steering wheel and pedals. Did you have to lift your back off the seat? No? Then everything is fine.
Common Mistakes
How to properly hold the steering wheel?
The most reliable is considered to be the “closed grip”.What is it? This is a position of the hands, when four fingers are wrapped around the steering wheel rim from the outside, and the thumb is inside it. This grip will help you, if necessary, to stop the involuntary rotation of the steering wheel. Should you squeeze the steering wheel too hard? Of course not. A driver who “clings” to the steering wheel will very soon have his hands tired. This is advisable only in a critical situation. Well, or if you are going “outdoors” and are trying to drive off-road. In a normal situation, the steering wheel can be compared to a small bird - your task is to prevent it from flying away, but also not to crush it to death. That, it seems, is all you need to know about how to sit behind the wheel correctly. It's not that difficult, right? In fact, it is enough to pay a little attention to this - just watch yourself for a while - and you will understand that this position is not only correct, but also the most comfortable. All that remains is to fasten your seat belt - and you can hit the road. Have a nice trip!
