Mirror Adjustments & Sitting
- Sit up straight and well back into the seat. Your body should be firmly against the seat back and cushion.
- Move the seat forward or backward so your right foot is placed on the floor underneath the brake. The seat should be sufficiently forward so that your right leg cannot be straightened, and remains slightly bent even when you push hard. With a manual transmission, depress the clutch with your left foot. When it is all the way down, your leg should still be slightly bent. If, with the seat adjusted as far forward as it will go, you are too far back to be in this position, pad your back with cushions. If you do not sit properly, you cannot steer well nor can you use your brake or accelerator efficiently.
- If the seat height can be changed, adjust it so you can see over the steering wheel, preferably so that your line of vision is half way between the top of the steering wheel and the top of the windshield. If necessary, use a cushion to raise yourself to the correct height. Try also to have at least a fist’s space between the top of your head and the roof of the vehicle. The angle of the seat should be adjusted to support your thigh, but you should not have to use excessive force to depress any pedal to the floor.
- If the seat back is adjustable, move it so that your arms are slightly bent when you reach out and grasp the steering wheel in a “10 and 2″ or “9 and 3″ position.
- Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge is 7 cm (2 1/2 – 3 in.) above your eye level.
Mirror Adjustment
Proper mirror adjustment is critical to safe driving. The following page outlines an excellent method to adjust your vehicle’s mirrors to maximize your view of the road. Remember, always adjust your mirrors before you start to drive.
Begin with the rear view mirror. Adjust the mirror so that you are able to see as much of the rear windshield as possible. While adjusting the mirror, aim to keep your head in the same position as it will be when you are actually driving your vehicle. Adjusting your side mirror is a little more difficult. First, lean to the left so that your forehead is barely touching the side window. Then move the mirror so that you can just see the left side of your vehicle. To adjust the right side mirror, position your head toward the centre of your vehicle. Adjust the mirror so that it shows just a sliver of the right side of your vehicle.
By setting mirrors so the driver can see both sides of the vehicle from the driving position, the same image will appear in all three mirrors. By setting them so the driver has to lean to see the sides of the car, the outside mirrors continue on where the inside mirror leaves off – significantly reducing the blind spot. Another advantage of positioning your mirrors this way is that it reduces headlight glare from vehicles travelling behind you.
Left Foot Brace
The left foot brace refers to the bracing of your left foot against the fire wall (located below and behind the pedals separating the engine from the driving compartment) to support you and to keep you firmly in your seat.
Place your left foot against the fire wall and push whenever you need stability such as when negotiating a curve, when braking, in an emergency or on slippery pavement.
Bracing with your left foot helps you steer easily and well because you are not leaning on the wheel. Also, if you are not supporting your weight on the heel of your right foot, it is free to brake and accelerate with greater precision and control.
The fact that you need a left foot brace for controlled driving means you cannot use your left foot to brake. Always brake with your right foot.
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