Adjust your "comfort zone" before you drive

Guess what! All those levers, knobs and rotating bits in your car are there for a reason — your comfort and safety. Here are five essential adjustments for you to fine tune your car’s comfort zone.

According to the Canadian Automobile Association, only 14% of Canadian drivers have their car’s head restraints in a good position. That’s just one of five key adjustments you should take time to get right, for comfort and safety.

So before you head off down the road, take a minute to check that these areas of your car are set up correctly.

1. Your seat

Slide the seat so that you are at least 10 inches (25 cm) from the steering wheel. This will protect you if the airbag is deployed. Ensure you can reach the brake pedal without stretching. You should also be seated high enough to see over the steering wheel and past the hood. Sit so your arms are slightly bent when you hold the steering wheel.

Make sure the passenger’s seat is pushed back as far as possible because passenger-side airbags are usually larger.

2. Your headrest

There are a couple of adjustments to make to your headrest:

• Height. The top of the headrest should be no higher than the top of your head, and no lower than the top of your ear.

• Position. The headrest should be close to the back of your head — no more than 5 to 10 centimeters away. That’s one reason it’s not a good idea to drive with your seat tilted back. Proper headrest position helps reduce the risk of whiplash if you’re hit from behind.

3. Your seatbelt 

As well as securing you in your seat in a collision, the seatbelt also helps distribute the force of any impact over shoulders, hips and ribcage — the parts of the body that can better sustain impact.

Adjust the seatbelt to fit over your shoulder (never tuck it under your arm) and snugly across your chest. If you can adjust its height, set it so the strap doesn’t dig into your neck or sit too low on your chest.

The lap belt should sit across your hips, rather than your abdomen, and it should be neither too snug nor too loose.

4. Your rear view mirror

Adjust the mirror so you can see it without shifting from your driving position. You should be able to see out the car’s entire rear window.

5. Your side mirror

Take a minute to clean it if it’s dirty or covered with snow or ice. The side mirrors should be adjusted so you can see vehicles beside you and in the next lane. Position the mirrors so you can just barely see your own car — it’s those around you that matter. This should allow you adequate vision through the mirrors in combination with your own peripheral vision.

Check out all the helpful safety tips.

Did you like this article? Check out 10 tips for safer distance driving.

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