How to Sit Correctly in the Car

Many people drive a car without paying much attention to how they sit while steering. However, experts say that incorrect driving posture can cause an increase in discomfort in the neck, back, and other parts of the body and lead to chronic pain.

5-Minute Crafts will show you some useful techniques to find the correct position in the car.

❗ Important: This article is for informational purposes only. Remember to consult with a specialist first if you need to.

1. Adjust the seat height.

• First of all, make sure your knees are at least at the level of your hips. Moreover, your position should allow you to see the road and instruments without making you bend. If you feel that the maximum seat height is still too low for you, try to buy a cushion or wedge. It will also help you to reduce road vibrations.

To prevent poor circulation, provide a 2-finger gap between the back of your knees and the seat.

2. Fix your seat and foot position.

• Your seat position should allow you to reach and press all the pedals through their full range without forcing your back to move away from the back of the seat. Sit firmly.
• To avoid knee pain, slightly bend them (20°-30°) when the pedals are fully down.

• Make sure that your feet are relaxed and that your left one is on the footrest whenever you aren’t touching the clutch. It will give the pelvis and back more support.

3. Get the right seat back angle.

You might think that a 90° angle is perfect for your seat back. However, 100°-110° is considered the best to support discs in your lower back. Just don’t lean more, as that’s also unhealthy.

4. Adjust the lumbar support.

You can find lumbar support in many cars. If yours also has some, you need to adjust its height and depth. Ideally, you need to support the spine’s natural curve.

If there is no lumbar support in your car, buy a lumbar pillow or just roll a towel and put it in the curve of your lower back. It’s also possible to adjust its size by rolling less or more until you find the right one for you. The towel solution is cheap and easy, but note that the towel may fall every time you leave the car. That being said, you need to fix it when you start to drive again, which can be time-consuming.

5. Set your headrest.

It’s important to adjust your headrest both by height and front-to-back.

By height: Set the headrest in the middle of your head.

Front-to-back: Sit normally, and align your earlobe between the collar bone and neck muscles. Ask somebody for help since it’s easier to check the position from the side. Then you’ll need to set the headrest as it meets the back of your head.