SAFE DRIVING TIPS AND SEATING POSITION FOR SHORT PEOPLE.

Driving is fun and there is no reason that our height should keep us from fully enjoying the driving experience! But I guess that's okay with that. Who cares what other people think!

Modern day cars with higher packages, have height adjustable seats, adjustable lumbar, electric seat movement, height adjustable steering with telescoping movement, and electric adjustment for door mirrors. If you are opting for these features with your car purchase, you should feel enabled enough to drive a car safely and adequately, in city and on the highway too.

Most cars of today have a lot of options for seat position. You just need to find the right combination that works best for you.. Most of the time, you just have to adjust a little bit depending your height.

Here are few suggestions to look into that may help you drive safely:

1) SEAT ADJUSTMENTS-

You will never have a problem reaching the pedals as long as the seat is moved all the way forward.

Having said that, there are some drawbacks-

For instance, a small person has a tendency to move his/her entire body forward on a car seat so as to reach the brakes. That's a big mistake: One rule of car safety position is to press the back entirely against the backrest, with the bottom as far back in the seat as possible.

2) PEDAL EXTENSIONS-

Get "pedal extenders" which are relatively cheap, and can be changed from car-to-car. This will avoid you having to move the seat so far forward that you endanger yourself by being too close to the air bag!

3) WEDGE-SHAPED CUSHION-

Now if your car doesn't have the seat raise/lower option on the driver's seat, get a car cushion to raise yourself so you can see out the windshield. It should only need to be about an inch or so thick. Get a wedge-shaped cushion. These don't slide as much as using a regular pillow or cushion (which tends to slide under you when in an emergency situation, causing the seat belt to loosen and leaving you more prone to injuries!) Make sure that the cushions fits the contours of the seat - both back and bottom and not interfere with the belts.

4) MOVE YOUR SEAT BACKWARDS-

Move your seat back as far as you can while still comfortably reaching the pedals. You should be at least 10 inches from the steering wheel. Next, you should be able to easily reach for the gear stick(manual transmission vehicle) and depress the clutch and brake pedals to their extremes without additional effort, while the accelerator should not be tough to handle if you can manage the others.

5) KNOWING THE BLIND SPOTS OF YOUR CAR.

Have a friend walk around your car with a few disposable water bottles. Let him walk away from the car in towards different locations around the car, until you, sitting in the driver seat, cannot see his legs below the knees. Now that you cant view his legs below the knees- let him place each spot with a water bottle. You will, eventually, have an area similar to this, to mark the "blind spots" of your vehicle. Get to know these areas, so you know your visual limitations.

Believe me,By Memorizing these blind areas forever -you will be able to get a measure of the road while driving! and you will be able to drive freely with out added pressure...

6) TILT YOUR STEERING WHEEL DOWN-

Most cars have a lever on the steering column where you can adjust the angle of the steering wheel so you can lower it a bit to see over it. Adjust your steering wheel so it points at your chest, not your head or your neck.This will give you better control, as well as improving your visibility.

It's often seen that drivers who are short tend to adjust their seats to the full forward position. This places their chests and heads too close to the steering wheel. The biggest drawback here is that at the time of inflation of an airbag, (stored within the center of the steering wheel)- it moves toward you at 321.869 kilometres per hour for 12 to 18 inches, and generate a force of 907.185 kilograms!

7) LEARN TO KNOW YOUR CAR'S REFERENCE POINT-

Practice in a parking area to determine your visual reference clues.

The Examples are: Lining up the curb (curb is the edge of the sidewalk beside the road) with the center of your bonnet

or lining up stop lines (on the road) with your mirrors, No matter how short you may be, you will be able to know where you are in the relationship to traffic and curbs and stop points. Hence make it a point to learn your car's reference points at the earliest as this will help you in controlling your car more smoothly and safely.

8) SEAT BELT ADJUSTER-

Last but not the least, A seat belt adjuster clip attaches easily onto any seat belt. Attach it on the waistband of the seatbelt and adjust to your preferred angle for a more comfortable trip no matter the destination.

PLEASE NOTE: The requirements of a short driver are to be able to sit straight on the driver’s seat, with the back upright, and not lean onto the steering wheel. While doing so, your feet should adequately reach to far end of the foot well, without having to shift your position in the seat. This should be done just by moving your legs, while sitting fully back in the seat.

You should also be able to get a clear view of the road, and adjust the mirrors - the center rearview mirror and outside door mirrors on left and right!

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DRIVING!