If you’ve been driving for long enough, you probably go through all the motions like clockwork. Popping yourself into the driver’s seat, adjusting the mirrors, starting the car and driving off. However, most of us may not know that we have been sitting wrongly while driving. Well, today, we’re here to tell you about the optimal driving position, where you can drive in maximum comfort, control and safety.

Although the shapes of car seats are one-size-fits-all, manufacturers have created numerous ways to customize how seats are positioned in efforts to cater to the multiple sizes of drivers. New cars have seats that move up, down, forward, backward, and just about any other direction. 

Another plus point about the optimal driving position is that whether you’re travelling at low speeds, or driving on the limit, you can be sure that you are within reach of all the essential controls easily; whether it’s the steering wheel, the gear lever, the pedal and for Malaysians in particular, the air-cond switches!

The optimal driving position is done by Jaguar, with the help of the company’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Steve Iley. Together, they came up with this simple 5 step guide to the perfect driving position for comfort, control and safety. 

1. Take everything out from your pockets

First, you’re supposed to take everything out of your pockets, as “bulky items affect sitting position.” That includes anything from wallets to keys to cellphones to stowed-away snacks.

2. Put your back into it

Before putting a seatbelt on, the driver should then make sure his or her butt is all the way to the rear of the seat. Have all of your back in contact with the backrest. Sometimes, it feels natural to lean forward, but be sure to keep your back firmly touching the seat completely.

3. Pedal to the metal

Once your back is in position, adjust the recline so that your pelvis and spine are straight. Your thighs should be resting on the seats without any pressure points. Next, check the distance and position of the feet relative to the pedals. In the correct position, the leg should still be slightly bent when a pedal is fully pressed down. The reason for this is because you want to maintain control of your feet and the pedals. Having your knee fully extended is not conducive to that.

4. Watch your elbows

With both hands on the wheel, your elbows should be slightly bent when reaching for the wheel. Make sure the arms aren't straight and have a slight kink at the elbow. In an ideal position, the driver's shoulders should remain in contact with the seat even during turning. You can also measure this by sliding your hands along the wheel, acting like you’re about to make a hand-over-hand turn. The furthest you’ll need to reach is when you perform one of these. If your elbows are still bent, great, you’re in position! 

5. Rest your head

Lastly, the headrest should be aligned with the top of the head, that is, it should be at the same height as the top of your head. 

If you still didn’t understand any of that, you can check out Jaguar’s video on the optimal driving positions here. 

So there you have it, the optimal driving position for the optimal drive in comfort and safety. What do you think about the optimal driving position? Give it a try and tell us how it went in the comments below!