OK. You’ve confirmed that you’re fit to drive, done a pre-trip check, planned your route and minimized potential distractions. Take a minute to correctly set your seating position. Doing so improves your sight lines and helps you to operate the vehicle more efficiently. It also reduces driving stress and fatigue and minimizes the risks of discomfort and musculo-skeletal injuries (MSIs).
Seating position
When you’re driving, you should be comfortable and able to easily reach the controls (pedals, steering wheel, levers and knobs).
In general, aim for a seating position that puts the maximum amount of your body into contact with the seat. Sit in the seat, not on it. Push the small of your back into the seat and sit as upright as possible to help stay alert and allow for good visibility.

Click the thumbnails below to show a full-sized image:
Illustration 1 - Initial position:
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Illustration 2 - Raise the seat:
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Illustration 3 - Adjust for leg reach:
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Illustration 4 - Tilt seat cushion:
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Illustration 5 - Adjust backrest:
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Illustration 6 - Adjust lumbar support:
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Illustration 7 - Adjust steering wheel:
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Note – If your vehicle does not have a tilting / telescoping steering column, move the seat forward to achieve the distance of 25 – 30 cm between the steering wheel and your chest.
The finer points of footwork
By planting your left foot against the “dead pedal” (the foot rest area to the left of the brake or clutch pedal) you can brace your entire body. You can then work the brake and gas pedals with greater accuracy and control. It also means you aren’t relying on the steering wheel for support during hard braking. This improves your ability to quickly and accurately operate the steering wheel – and possibly avoid a crash.
Keeping your right heel on the floor allows you to easily pivot your foot at the ankle for smoother pedal operation. If you lift your foot off the floor to apply the brakes, you’re controlling pedal pressure with your entire leg, which is less effective.
Head restraints aren’t head rests
A properly positioned head restraint supports the back of your head and neck, protecting you from severe neck injuries if you’re in a rear-end crash.
The top of the head restraint should be about level with the top of your head.
The head restraint should be closer than 10 cm (4”) from the back of your head, but not so close that it interferes with your ability to comfortably turn and move your head without contacting the head restraint. Adjusting the seat back in a slightly more upright position will place your head closer to the head restraint.
Click the thumbnail below to show a full-sized image:
The next time you’re driving with passengers, take a few seconds to check the positioning of your passengers’ head restraints – in the front and rear seats.