Yesterday, those responsible for social networks of the DGT issued two important warnings: the first explained that using a mobile phone while driving is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol; the second showed the relationship between speed and field of vision. Today, the message is no less important: how to place your arms and back behind the wheel.
And it is not just a matter of comfort and health, adopting a correct position behind the wheel is also a way to reduce injuries in the event of an accident.
How to position your arms and back behind the wheel
Once inside the vehicle, before turning the key you should make sure that the seat is at the right distance, especially if you share the driving with a family member or friend.
Through Twitter, the DGT shares the tricks that we can use to ensure a correct position:
When you get behind the wheel, adapt the driving position to suit you. Slightly bent arms are a sign that the #distance from seat to steering wheel is correct. And the ideal inclination of the backrest should be almost vertical💺.👉 https://t.co/iRc1x3Zos2#SitWell pic.twitter.com/TPplTi2gmM
— Director General Traffic (@DGTes) April 26, 2022
With the hashtag #SentarseBien Tráfico, remember what was surely explained to you in the first practical classes at the driving school:
- To ensure a good position, the arms must be slightly bent, while the back must be as straight as possible.
- A backrest that is tilted too far back reduces the effectiveness of the movement of the arms, the headrest and the seat belt and can cause the so-called underwater effect.
- In addition, to calculate the optimal distance (not too far, not too close) the legs must be semi-flexed, so that it is possible to depress the clutch pedal fully with a movement of the ankle. While to adjust the angle of the backrest, sit with your back and shoulders resting on the backrest: your arms should reach the steering wheel half flexed and relaxed, so that if you stretch them you can rest your wrists on them.
- Regarding the height of the bench, the driver’s eyes must be halfway up the windshield, with full visibility across its width.
The steering wheel is also adjustable
The height and depth adjustments of the steering wheel allow the distance to be adjusted so that the driver can move his arms and maneuver comfortably.
Like the seat, the steering wheel should not be too high or too low; the arms should be relaxed and half flexed, and the back and shoulders supported by the backrest.
