The reaction to road conditions, driving fatigue and even life itself – all this depends on the driver in the chair. And while it is not possible for the owner to get comfortable at the wheel, the minimum comfort is still worth taking care of.
We are talking about comfortable landing, because only passengers are allowed to have a rest comfortably seated in the cabin of the vehicle, they are not responsible for the safety of the crew.
What affects the correct landing at the wheel?
By ignoring safety rules, drivers put not only their lives but also the lives of passengers and other road users at great risk. What happens during a traffic accident? When the driver’s body is pushed forward, his hands rest against the wheel and his feet against the pedal.
If he is sitting incorrectly, his limbs are fully straightened, hitting the “bottom” of the car. This can result in injuries to the ankle, knees, etc. If he sits “properly”, i.e. the driver’s legs and arms are slightly bent, the probability of damage is less.
When the car owner is in the right position behind the wheel, he can quickly react to the road situation, longer, without fatigue in the neck and back, to drive the car. It is therefore important to adjust the seat and headrest, steering wheel and mirrors before going on a trip.
How does getting into a car affect the driver?
The driver’s position, like sitting in general, is not the most beneficial for human health. But we can’t drive while standing, so we have to adapt so as to avoid damage to the spine, neck and other parts of the body.
The right fit is very important it will ensure:
- long service life behind the wheel;
- quick reaction to emergency situations around;
- good circulation, no swelling of the back and neck.
Driver’s seat adjustment
The first thing to consider when adjusting the seat is the individual characteristics of the driver: his height, build, how much he weighs.
How to adjust the driver’s seat:
- the backrest is tilted at an angle of 75-90 degrees – figures may vary from how many hours a person spends behind the wheel
- the headrest is set parallel to the back of the head.
The driver sits in his seat so that there are no gaps between the back and back of the chair, there is at least 3 cm of reserve left to the edge of the seat, and the feet are calmly (without tension) placed on the pedals.
What mistakes can there be
First: Excessive tilt of the chair back.
For example, racing cars, where pilots are lying almost in the seats due to the fact that the backrest is vertical. This design allows not only better control of the steering wheel, but also less fatigue. There is no scientific explanation for why this happens, but motorsport professionals have proved everything in practice.
When landing, it is important that the blades fit the seat well and do not tear off, even if the amplitude of movement of the shoulders is maximum. To ensure full contact between back and seat, it is designed with special curves.
If the backrest is too deflected, the driver will simply hang on the steering wheel when performing the manoeuvre (blade removal).
Two: The headrest is very low.
The headrest, as an element of the seat, performs the function of protection and then comfort. When setting up, do not forget this fact. For example, the headrest in Volvo models is installed without any possibility of adjustment. And these cars are not just considered to be among the safest ones.
It is also worth mentioning cars with seats where the headrest can be adjusted horizontally. The parameters are as follows: from the back of the head restraint should be located no more than three or four centimetres.
Steering wheel and gear shifters
When driving long distances, chauffeurs recommend to keep their hands on the steering wheel at 10/ 2 o’clock to avoid fatigue for longer and better control of the vehicle. It is believed that such a grip can give more effort to the steering wheel. Let’s see why it’s not worth doing.
What kind of errors can there be
First. hand position on the steering wheel 10/2
When the driver uses this hand position, the force acting on the steering wheel is not distributed correctly. At this point, there is a feeling of total control over the technique, but that’s just a feeling. The same happens when the driver holds his left hand on the steering wheel and his right hand on the grip. This habit is dangerous, because if there is a risk of an accident it will not be possible to quickly maneuver.
It is important to provide a symmetrical grip on the steering wheel and get used to holding it even in emergency situations. If you have to grip the steering wheel, it must happen sequentially.
It is also worth to say about vehicles, the steering wheel of which provides vertical and horizontal superstructure. It is very convenient and safe, if both parameters are adjusted correctly.
However, more often than not, car owners move the steering wheel too close to the body, believing that this will allow them to control the behavior of the vehicle. This manipulation is dangerous because an airbag will be fired from the steering wheel during a collision, most likely resulting in chest injury. Therefore, the recommended tilt of the steering wheel to the chest is 35-40 centimeters.
What to hide, our compatriots don’t like to buckle up. No matter how much social slogans and traffic police fines they tried to teach to use a seatbelt, many drivers still neglect this rule. At the same time, if you don’t buckle up, neither the driver’s seat nor the adjustment of the chair will have any effect.
Foot position on pedals
This issue is particularly relevant for fans of the ICCPR. In order to reduce reaction time and prevent leg fatigue.
The following rules should be followed:
- The leg has to stay on the pedal.
- The right foot may be between the pedals. To press the gas or brake, you must carry your foot without taking your heels off the floor.
- The support point is always in the middle of the foot.
Adjustment of side mirrors and rearview mirrors
So, the driver took a comfortable and correct position in the chair, checked the accessibility to the steering wheel, pedals, gearbox, now you need to adjust the view. When driving, it will not turn your head on 360 and will not lose attention.
The mirrors are adjusted correctly if:
- you can see the sky and the road in the outside mirrors (the horizon in the middle);
- in the side mirrors you can see the back door handle;
- the rear window of the car is displayed in the rearview mirror.