5 Tips for the Best Seating Position 

Hello Reg. I came upon your videos some weeks ago and am working my way through all of them, in no particular order. I find them to be absolutely enthralling, evoking memories of getting through my IAM test. Since I have acquired a new car in the past three weeks it is, perhaps, ideal that I should have found your videos - to re-awaken the brain cells that have fallen asleep in the past 30 years. Thank you.

Hi Reg, as a recent subscriber I've found your channel very informative, spent the summer binge watching and practicing techniques on most journeys. After 40 years of driving it's rebooted my interest in driving again, from going out in my daily driver or out in my weekend toy, proves you never stop learning. Love and peace.

Perfect timing, I have been trying to find someone who knows what they are talking about giving this information - cheers Reg!

9:32 - nice number plate!

I agree, watching someone who knows what they speak of. Great channel, thank you

I've requested this video in one of my previous comments, happy to watch it.

Thank you for these videos I had lost my love of driving due to idiots on the road and my driving was more of a chore then pleasure but watching these videos have made me want to get out more and to enjoy my driving so Thank you

Thank you for this video. With all the driving I do, I struggle to find a comfortable position, and this guide has already made a difference.

Seat belt position and adjustment. Lumbar support if seat has it and head rest position with regards to back of neck. I would highlight blind spots. I.e a post and b post etc. For vision. Its amazing how mirrors and a posts can actually block your view.

We’re all different when it comes to our size/structure. For me it’s a bit of a compromise to have the seat high enough to support my legs properly, but to have enough clearance from the bottom of the wheel above my thighs. At least most modern cars do not have completely round wheels - mine is slightly flattened at the bottom when straight ahead & on minor curves. The other point worth mentioning is the setting up of door mirrors to minimise blind spots. E.g. on the right it should be possible to just about see something in the lane to the right in both the rear view one and the door one, rather than it being trapped in the blind spot as it passes (without moving one’s head). The related one is to observe where the forward blind spot angles are once the seating is set up.

Thanks Reg! I have been struggling to find the sequence of adjustments and you explained it very well...

Your videos always seem to come at the right time! Just when I'm wanting to improve on something, or need info, you post it! Cheers

love the car white was a good choice

Awesome vid. Thank you for tips in this and other vids Reg! Driver since 2012.

Spot on. Great advice.

Long awaited and much appreciated. Great video quality.

Well done reg very informative. And the m2 competition wow, never sell it.

This is excellent. Many thanks

A few other tips: 1. Adjust your head restraint for height and make sure it's locked into position. Too low and it won't protect you fully. Some headrests also adjust fore and aft as well. Expirement with what works for you. I realise that some cars (such as in Reg's video) have fixed head restraints as part of the seatback and hence cannot be adjusted separately but so many cars have seperate head restraint adjustment. 2. Seat belt: Most cars nowadays have height adjustable seat belts. Adjust for most comfortable height and make sure it doesn't dig into your neck. You can also get seat belt pads for greater comfort. 3. Related to #2, don't wear a laynard (badge ID with strap) when driving. Especially don't ever wear a laynard, scarf or a tie underneath your seat belt. Cars have seat belt pre tensioners and wearing the aforementioned items can cause injury 4. Make sure your seatbelt is properly fastened after you've clicked it in and that the webbing iies completely flat on all of your body and is not twisted. 5. Make sure floor mat is properly secured and no risk of moving 6. Most cars have some form of adjustable lumbar support. Familiarize yourself on how to adjust and do so for maximum comfort. Can be varied whilst driving if traffic conditions are safe 7. If you are still having problems getting the ideal driving position, be aware you can get after market wedge cushions, lumber supports, neck cushions and so forth. 8. When driving, the latest advice is hands in the 9 and 3 o clock position rather than the more traditional 10 and 2 position. My understanding is that the reason for this advice change came about when cars started having airbags. For the same reason, I've seen advice stating adjust your seat as far back as you comfortably can. Hope this helps!

Great video mate 👍 I've just bought an E220 and I tried to do my seating position earlier, failed miserably and had aching legs and feet when I got out so sometime next week I'll take this video into the car with me and try again.

Great video. The only thing I would say is in a rear end accident you could do with the seat angled a little further forward. It’s fine if you have a movable headrest as you can then adjust it to be closer to your head but with a fixed headrest like yours (and mine as well) it is always going to be a compromise and I’d go for safety. Otherwise with a gap like that you will get a significant neck injury

I’ve been struggling with this for 9 years in my S3. For my wrists to rest on the steering as per your video, I feel like my legs are scrunched up too much. I cannot seem to get the right leg position to match my arms. BUT, having watched this video, I am going to sit there until I do. 😂 I get shoulder ache on any drive over 90 mins. Also, where I have the seat angled, I feel the back of my head tapping the head rest and it drives me nuts. It is not adjustable and I can’t figure for the life of me why it isn’t. My Subaru’s headrest was adjustable and that was ace, but this Audi is fixed and annoyingly so.

Where are subtitles Reg?

The video is excellent, but it appears that you’re leaning back more than necessary. When discussing the steering wheel position, you begin by stating that with extended arms and shoulders back, one should be able to touch the top of the wheel. However, you don’t quite complete the thought by mentioning that the wheel should be touched with the wrists, which I believe was your intention. During the demonstration, you round your shoulders forward and still can’t reach the wheel with your wrists. I think you noticed this as you went silent for a moment. Given that you had extended the wheel as far back as possible, it should have been apparent that your backrest needs to be adjusted slightly. You then somewhat contradict yourself by stating that the bottom of your hands should rest on the wheel and that you shouldn’t bend your back forward. This wasn’t your initial statement and it’s not the recommended advice. In my opinion, the most common flaw I observe in drivers’ seating positions is that they sit too far back, likely for comfort. Reclining is less strenuous on the spine, and having a larger belly might make sitting upright even more uncomfortable. However, this is not an optimal driving position and sets a poor example.

When would you alter the adjustable head restraint?

Hmm, how do you obtain a decent view ahead when the mirror, like the one in your car, blocks too much of what's up ahead on the passenger side? Your neck position also would predispose you to a neck injury if you continue to sit like you've shown us, it looks like you are literally too large for the vehicle you own..

What if your steering wheel doesn't have reach adjustment?

Not a manual car hmmmmm🚙