Making the Proper Adjustments Inside the Vehicle
Before you put the car in drive, do you have a list of things you check inside your vehicle to ensure safety? There’s a lot to think about when you get behind the wheel, but here are a few things you should check before you hit the road.
Close and lock all doors. Locked doors are less likely to fly open if a collision occurs. Locked doors are especially important if there are young children riding in the passenger seats.
Adjust the seat so you are in a comfortable position sitting with your back firmly pressed against the back of the seat. You should be at least 10 inches away from the hub of the wheel to reduce your risk of being injured by an airbag if it deploys.
Adjust the head restraint to the middle of the back of your head.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror so it shows the area behind you through the rear window. In addition, adjust the left and right outside rearview mirrors so they show a slight amount of the sides of the vehicle. Remember, adjusting mirrors cannot eliminate all blind spots.
Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained by their seat belt. According to the NHTSA, “In 2015, seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,941 lives.” https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts
Your hands should be in a balanced position on each side of the steering wheel with your elbows slightly bent. Proper hand position will help you have more control and stability when driving.
By making proper adjustments to seats, seat belts, mirrors, and other equipment inside the vehicle, you taking a proactive approach to safe driving. Make these adjustments each time you enter your vehicle. Once it becomes a habit, you will ensure that you’re doing everything you can to stay safe each time you drive. For more information on proactive driving, check out another one of our recent blog posts: Eight Habits of Proactive Driving.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check inside the vehicle before I start driving?
Run through the same checklist every time you get in the car. Close and lock all doors so they don't fly open in a collision. Adjust the seat so your back is firmly against the seatback and you're at least 10 inches from the steering wheel hub. Set the head restraint to the middle of the back of your head. Adjust the inside rearview mirror to frame the rear window, then set the outside mirrors so you see just a sliver of the vehicle on each side. Confirm everyone is buckled. Place your hands in a balanced position on the wheel with elbows slightly bent.
How far should I sit from the steering wheel for airbag safety?
Sit at least 10 inches between your chest and the hub of the steering wheel. Airbags deploy at up to 200 miles per hour, so sitting too close can cause serious injury when the bag fires. Adjust the seat back and the steering wheel position until you can comfortably reach the pedals with a slight bend in your knees and have at least that 10 inches of clearance to the wheel. If you're short and can't get the right distance, look into pedal extenders rather than scooting forward.
How should I set my mirrors to reduce blind spots?
Adjust the inside rearview mirror so it perfectly frames the rear window. Set each outside mirror so you can just barely see the side of your own vehicle on the inside edge of the mirror. That widens the field of view and reduces, but does not eliminate, blind spots. Always do a quick over-the-shoulder head check before changing lanes or merging. Mirror adjustments don't replace looking; they supplement it.
What's the correct hand position on the steering wheel?
Hands belong in a balanced position on each side of the wheel with elbows slightly bent. Older guidance taught 10-and-2, but current best practice is closer to 9-and-3, which gives better control and keeps your arms out of the path of the airbag if it deploys. A slight elbow bend lets you steer smoothly without locking up, and balanced hand position gives equal leverage in both directions, which matters most during an emergency maneuver.
How effective are seat belts at preventing injury in a crash?
Extremely. NHTSA estimates that seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved 13,941 lives in 2015 alone. Seat belts keep you in position during a crash, prevent ejection, and let the airbag work as designed. Make sure every passenger is buckled before the car moves, including those in the back seat. Adults sometimes skip the belt for short trips, but most crashes happen within a few miles of home. Buckling up is the easiest safe-driving habit to build.
