Good driving posture makes you more comfortable, reduces fatigue on longer drives and gives you better control of the car. It also helps your seatbelt and airbags protect you properly. Take a minute to set up the car before every drive, especially if someone else has driven it.
Set up the car in this order
- Seat height. Raise or lower the seat so you have a clear view over the steering wheel and of the road ahead, with room between your head and the roof.
- Seat distance. Slide the seat forward or back so you can press the brake pedal all the way down with your knee still slightly bent.
- Backrest. Set the backrest fairly upright so it supports your back and shoulders. Sit right back in the seat, with no gap behind your lower back.
- Steering wheel. Adjust the wheel so it's set low and facing your chest, and you can hold it with your arms comfortably bent. You shouldn't have to lean forward or lift your shoulders off the seat to reach it.
- Head restraint. Adjust the head restraint for your height, so it sits close behind your head rather than behind your neck.
- Seatbelt. Wear the lap part low across your hips, not your stomach, and the sash across the middle of your shoulder and chest, with no twists.
- Mirrors. Adjust your rear-view and side mirrors last, once you're sitting in your driving position, so you have a good view behind and to the sides of the car.
Your hands and feet
- Hold the steering wheel with both hands, keeping your arms slightly bent and your thumbs resting on the rim rather than wrapped around it.
- Keep your knees slightly bent, never locked straight.
- In an automatic, rest your left foot on the footrest to brace your body, and use only your right foot for the accelerator and brake.
Quick posture checklist
- Clear view of the road and easy reach of all the controls
- Steering wheel low, facing your chest
- Head restraint adjusted for your height
- Seatbelt low across your hips, with no twists
- Mirrors giving a good view of the rear and sides
- Seat upright, supporting your back and shoulders
- Arms bent, thumbs on the rim of the wheel
- Knees slightly bent
- Sitting right back in the seat
- Left foot braced on the footrest
Common posture mistakes
- Reclining the seat too far, which reduces control and lets you slide under the seatbelt in a crash.
- Sitting too close to the wheel, with your arms cramped and your chest close to the airbag.
- Sitting too far away, so you have to stretch your arms or legs to reach the wheel and pedals.
- Leaving the head restraint at the lowest setting.
- Adjusting the mirrors before the seat, so they're wrong once you're in position.
On longer drives
Even with good posture, your body tires on long drives. Take a break at least every two hours, get out of the car and stretch, and pull over somewhere safe if you feel drowsy.
Frequently asked questions
How far should you sit from the steering wheel?
Close enough that you can hold the wheel with your arms comfortably bent and press the brake fully with your knee slightly bent, without leaning forward or lifting your shoulders off the seat.
Where should your hands be on the steering wheel?
Hold the wheel with both hands, arms slightly bent, with your thumbs resting along the rim rather than wrapped around it.
Should you adjust your mirrors or your seat first?
Adjust your seat, steering wheel and head restraint first, then your mirrors, so the mirrors are set for your actual driving position.
Learn the right habits from the start
Setting up the car properly is one of the first things we teach. Our instructors each hold a NSW driving instructor licence, and they'll check your seating position, mirrors and hand position on every lesson until it becomes automatic.
If you're under 25, each hour with a licensed NSW driving instructor counts as 3 hours in your log book, for up to 10 hours of lessons. That's up to 20 bonus hours.
See our driving lesson prices or book an Introductory Session.