How to Adjust Your Seat Correctly While Driving

Driving with a properly adjusted seat will make you more comfortable and safer. There are many ways to adjust the seat, like moving it forward or away from the steering wheel, changing the tilt of the backrest, and raising or lowering the headrest. After the seat is adjusted for comfort and safety, make sure you sit in it properly. Remember to always wear your seat belt!

Table of Contents

Using the seat controller

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Slide the seat until your knees bend slightly when you press the accelerator. Push the seat forward if your legs have to be fully extended when you step on the accelerator. Push the seat back if the knees are bent too much. Keeping your knees slightly bent while driving will prevent knee pain. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Sit so that there is a space for two fingers between your heels and the chair. Place 2 fingers between the edge of the chair and the heel of your foot. If you can’t fit two fingers into the empty slot, slide the seat back as far as you can. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Raise the chair until your hips are level with your knees. Raise the seat even higher if you can’t see the windshield and windows clearly. Do not drive in a seated position with your hips lower than your knees. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If your car doesn’t have controls to adjust the seat height, sit on a cushion to keep your hips level with your knees. Make sure you don’t raise the seat too high, or you’ll have to bend over to see the windshield and windows.

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Adjust the backrest to an angle of about 100 degrees. Sitting at such an angle will reduce pressure on the lower back making you feel more comfortable. ^{[4] X Research Source} If your shoulders are lifted off the backrest when you turn the steering wheel, your seat is reclined too much. Recline your backrest if you are hunched forward while driving. When the back of the seat is in the right position, you will easily grasp the steering wheel and the elbows will bend slightly. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Move the headrest so that your nape is centered. If your head is higher than the headrest when sitting in the chair, you need to adjust the headrest higher. If the nape of the neck is lower than the headrest, adjust the head restraint down. Ideally, the top of your head should be level with the top of the headrest. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Adjust the lumbar support to accommodate the curvature of the lower back. The lumbar support cushion is the protrusion of the lower backrest. First, adjust the height of the lumbar support so that the bottom edge is level with the waistline. Next, adjust the depth of the cushion so that it completely fills the curve of the lower back. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If your seat doesn’t have a lumbar support, roll up a towel and place it on the arch of your back while driving.
You can also purchase an adhesive sponge pad in place of a lumbar support if the chair doesn’t have one.

Ibrahim Onerli

Driving Instructor

Ibrahim Onerli is a member and manager of Revpution Driving Schop, a driving school in New York City with a mission to make the world a better place through teaching safe driving. Ibrahim trains and manages a team of over 8 driving instructors, specializing in defensive driving and manual transmission.

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Try pressing the brake pedal to ensure a comfortable seat. Depress the brake pedal all the way and notice if your heels are raised. If so, your seat needs to be snug. In addition, adjust the steering wheel so that the distance from the steering wheel to the chest is about 25 cm.

Sit in the chair properly

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Sit so that your body is always close to the chair. Your back should be pressed against the backrest, your buttocks as close to the chair as possible. Avoid driving with people rushing forward; If you can’t reach the pedals or the steering wheel, adjust your seat, not your body. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Hold the steering wheel in the “9 and 3” positions. Imagine a steering wheel as a watch face. Place your left hand at the 9 o’clock position as on the clock. Place your right hand at 3 o’clock on the watch face. Keeping this position will give you the best control of the steering wheel. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Always drive with both hands on the steering wheel. Driving with one hand causes the spine to twist, which can lead to back pain. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Keep your left foot in the footrest when you’re not using it. If you drive a car, only move your left foot when you use the clutch. If you drive autonomously, you will never move your left foot out of the footrest. Keeping your left foot flat on the footrest will support your back and pelvis while driving. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Fasten your seat belt so that the belt goes over your pelvis. Don’t tie the belt across your thighs and over your belly. In the event of an accident, you need your seat belt to hold onto your pelvis, not your belly. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Steps

Using the seat controller

Sit in the chair properly

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