Seating position in the car

Around 80 per cent of all car drivers do not sit optimally while driving. Our head, neck and back feel the effects of these mistakes. However, incorrectly adjusted seats not only cause tension; they often lead to serious injuries in the event of an accident.

Even if you are driving or travelling in someone else's car, you should adjust the seat, backrest and headrest correctly after getting in.

Take 5 minutes to check that you are sitting comfortably:

• A seat position that is too close to the steering wheel can lead to serious injuries in the event of an airbag deployment!
• Despite head restraints, rear-end collisions often result in the notorious cervical spine whiplash injury. The consequences range from short-term neck pain to permanent dizziness and chronic headaches.

• The backrest should be almost perpendicular to the seat.
• Your legs are still slightly bent when the pedals are fully depressed.
• During a normal ride, a flat hand fits between your thigh and the seat.
• Stretch out your arms. You should now be able to rest your wrists on the steering wheel without your shoulder blades losing contact with the backrest.
• In many cars, the position of the steering wheel can also be adjusted. Take your time to do this too.

How to adjust your headrest correctly:

• The upper edge of the headrest should be adjusted to the height of your head.
• The distance between the back of the head and the headrest should be a maximum of 4 cm. To do this, position the seat backrest almost vertically and tilt the headrest forwards accordingly. Test: Your flat hand fits straight between the back of your head and the headrest.