Seven Ergonomic Tips for Driving

05/25/2012

by Mike Hoonhorst, AEP

With the price of air travel increasing, many people find themselves driving to their destinations. And long drives can often mean sitting in static postures for long periods of time. What some people may forget is that vehicles can be flexible. It’s important to understand all of the adjustable features in your vehicle. Take a few extra minutes before you start that road trip to avoid pain along the way.

• Adjust your seat height so you can comfortably see the instruments and the road.
• Adjust the seat height so your hips are in line with or slightly higher than your knees (you can also use a cushion).
• Use the dead pedal to rest your left foot (and to prevent riding the clutch, if equipped).
• Make sure your feet can comfortably depress the accelerator, brake, and clutch without your back leaving the seat.
• Slightly recline the seat back to an angle of approximately 100 degrees.
• Adjust the steering wheel to avoid excessive reaching (distance should be a minimum of 10" to the driver's breastbone), place hands at 10 and 2 o'clock (or 9 and 3 o'clock) position to reduce the risk of injury during airbag deployment.
• Stop regularly and get out of the car.
• If available, adjust the lumbar support every couple of hours.