Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/vectorfusionart

Here's what a perfect driving position looks like - and how to fix yours

Plus, why it’s time to forget the ‘ten and two’ rule.

CORRECTLY SETTING UP your driving position not only ensures a safer journey, but also provides support and comfort for your neck, back and joints.

That’s all well and good, but millions of us drive daily with seats too high or far bar, hands too high on the steering wheel, and our rear-view mirrors misaligned.

So how should it be done?

Here’s what a perfect driver position should look like – and how to know if you’re getting it wrong…

1. Hands at nine and three 

Shutterstock Shutterstock

You’ve probably had ‘hands at ten and two’ drilled into you for years, but road safety experts now reckon our hands should be a little lower, at nine and three.

This position ensures that your hands do not obstruct the driver airbag, gives you more control when steering and makes manoeuvring the car easier.

2. Arms loose, not locked

You arms shouldn’t lock when holding and turning the steering wheel. Place your wrists on the steering wheel and adjust your seat and the wheel so that your wrists can comfortably rest there, with your shoulders against the seat back.

3. Knees slightly bent and higher than hips

Just like your arms, your legs should never be fully straight while driving. Locked limbs are more prone to fractures and breaks during an impact.

To figure out the right position, fully press in the clutch and brake pedals to the to the floor while the car is off. Adjust your seat forwards, backwards, up and down until your knees have a slight bend in them and are a little higher than your hips.

4. Head close to the headrest

Newspress Newspress

The back of your head should be no more than six centimetres away from your seat’s headrest. The top of the headrest should be at least as high as the top of your head-  or your ears should be level with the middle of your headrest.

More: 8 ways to get your car properly clean without spending a cent >

More: How ‘run flat tyres’ let you keep driving with a puncture >

Want to make sure you don’t miss out on anything going on in the world of motors? Like us on Facebook and and follow us on Twitter for the latest updates.

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Business Cat
    Favourite Business Cat
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 3:38 PM

    Where would the hacks be if there was no twitter?

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Norris
    Favourite Darren Norris
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 9:19 PM

    I live facing the bridge, lots of helicopters etc al recording it and huge area shit down, blast lasted a second as they where stunt flames, people just being dramatic as usual

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute colin
    Favourite colin
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 3:57 PM

    Fuking stop with this clickbait shite

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 3:54 PM

    Another attention seeking headline

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute An Observer
    Favourite An Observer
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 3:57 PM

    Paul, could you not have realised that it was a movie stunt from the * in the headline? Seriously,I mean it was practically spoon-fed to us….

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 6:10 PM

    Oh, ok, the Brazil team were all, killed in a plane crash*

    2
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 6:10 PM

    * means it’s not true

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán J. Troy
    Favourite Seán J. Troy
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 5:03 PM

    “The Foreigner” An action packed film starring Nigel Farage blowing up buses full of Syrian refugees.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall
    Favourite Niall
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 6:27 PM

    Sap!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnneary
    Favourite Johnneary
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 11:27 PM

    The victims and the victims families of the 7/7 bombing must be disgusted with this stunt.
    Quite a sick stunt to terrorise the men, women, children and oaps of London
    and try to accustom them to being under attack by the terrorists that their (bought and paid for) government radicalise and invite in from behind the safety of the bulletproof glass installed in their ivory towers.
    Sad
    So Sad.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnneary
    Favourite Johnneary
    Report
    Feb 8th 2016, 12:46 AM

    Video games have taken to the streets.
    Soon no one will know (or care about) the difference between a real terrorist attack and a fake one.
    How desensitised people have become.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
    Favourite Thomas O' Donnell
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 9:18 PM

    This whole thing has been blown out of all proportion!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Feb 7th 2016, 10:18 PM

    The outrage bus has exploded.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Gorman
    Favourite Pat Gorman
    Report
    Feb 8th 2016, 9:09 AM

    I am surprised that they had to use the real Lambeth Bridge in this day and age.
    Surely this could have been done in a film studio with the assistance of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery).
    That bus exploding would certainly have looked like a real terrorist attack to a casual unsuspecting observer.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Gorman
    Favourite Pat Gorman
    Report
    Feb 8th 2016, 9:13 AM

    P.S.
    Are the film company going to compensate the disrupted commuters?
    Pigs might fly.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jacqueline McMahon
    Favourite Jacqueline McMahon
    Report
    Feb 8th 2016, 2:36 PM

    God some people just look for a way to be offended!!

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel