An important part of driving t
hat's often overlooked is your
posture behind the wheel.
Poor driving posture can lead
to discomfort in your neck,
back, shoulders, arms, wrists,
fingers, legs and feet. And
that's not all: Studies have
found that bad posture can
also increase the risk of
serious injury if you get
into an accident.
Be sure to go over this aspect
of your driving with your
experienced instructor at
Drive Rite Academy, and try
to follow these tips the next
time you get behind the wheel.
Always support Your back by sl
iding your tailbone as close
to the seat back as possible.
Try to get a two- to three-
finger gap between the back
of your knees and the front
of your seat. And also
adjust your posterior so
that your thighs are supported
along their entire length
and your knees are slightly
lower than your hips.
Don't sit too close to the ste
ering wheel. Sit so that you
can comfortably reach the peda
ls and press them through thei
r full range with your entire
foot. Drivers whose chests
were closer to the wheel are
more likely to suffer severe
injuries to the head, neck
and chest in front- and rear-
end collisions.
Also, lean back a little. The
angle of your seat back should
be a little greater than a
perpendicular 90 degrees.
Leaning too far back forces
you to push your head and
neck forward, which can cause
neck and shoulder pain.
And be sure to set the top of
your headrest between the top
of your ears and the top of yo
ur head. The headrest should
just touch the back of your
head when you’re sitting comfo
rtably.
Another way to avoid neck stra
in, is to properly adjust your
rear-view and side mirrors.
You should be able to see the
traffic behind you without
craning your neck.
It also helps to take regular
breaks, especially when you've
been driving for long periods
of time. A good idea is to
park safely at a rest stop,
get out of the car and stretch
. Taking a few minutes to
rest can make a big difference
in the long run.