Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Sit right for safety
How you position your body and hands while driving helps to determine whether you’ll get to your destination safely.
Reach the pedals with ease
If you can’t comfortably depress your foot pedals, you can’t fully control your vehicle. To test your eating position, put your right foot on the floor behind the brake pedal. Your knee should still be slightly bent. With a standard transmission, you should be able to depress the clutch fully with the knee slightly bent.
Sit up straight -- for comfort and control
The safest posture for driving is sitting vertically, not reclining. Adjust your seat so that your hands can be on the steering wheel at shoulder height with your elbows comfortably bent. If necessary, raise your seat or add a cushion so you can see comfortably over the steering wheel.
Don’t crowd the wheel
Sit with your back firmly against the backrest of your seat and keep a space of 25 centimetres (10 inches) between your chest and the steering wheel. You need that space to avoid airbag injuries.
Remember your mirrors
Once you’ve adjusted your seating, adjust your interior and exterior mirrors. Make sure the left exterior mirror shows you a little of the side of your vehicle.
Hands at “9 and 3”
With two hands on the steering wheel at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions, you can steer almost 180 degrees without shifting positions. You may be better positioned to prevent airbag injuries, as well.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV and check out the following sections on our website:
- Driver Position in Driving Tips
- You can access the 60-Second Driver Steering Wheel Hand Position video directly
