Sitting in Your Seat Properly Your back should be pressed against the backrest, and your bottom should be as far back in your seat as possible. Avoid driving with your body scorched forward; if you can't reach the pedals or steering wheel, adjust your seat, not your body.
As a general rule you want to sit as low as possible with your legs straight, and your body is stretched out. This gives a nice low centre of gravity, the steering wheel is moved closer to your body, and the low seat base adds to the feeling of speed when you are driving.
Never drive with your hips lower than your knees. Your knees should be slightly bent, but your feet should still be able to reach the pedals easily for good control. Head/Neck: Your neck should be upright, with the center of the back of your head touching the center of the headrest.
The Rear Middle Seat is the Safest Seat Location
The back seat is more protected from head-on crashes than the front seats. But, the back seats are still vulnerable to side crashes. That's why the middle seat in the back is the safest spot, since it's basically the center of the car.
Lowering your car or truck so it's closer to the ground is a popular way to customize your ride. Done right, it's a great look that also boosts handling performance. Done wrong, it could compromise handling, drivability and traction, reduce tire tread life and even damage parts.
A lower height in the rear will allow the car to put more power sooner in RWD car and in downhill turns it will make the car more neutral, easier and faster to drive providing a confidence boost to the driver, the opposite is true for uphill turns however which will make the car understeer more and steering will feel ...
This will depend on the car involved, the location of the impact and the severity of the crash, but generally speaking the rear seats are considered safer than the front seats in most crashes.
Why is the middle seat safest? Simply stated, the middle seat is the furthest from impact during a collision, as well as the furthest away from air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children under the age of 13 ride in the back seat, ideally in the center.
If the vehicle's rear shock absorbers or coil springs have had an issue, they can cause the suspension to sag, sometimes to the point of the wheels contacting the chassis and preventing the vehicle from moving.
If your car nose dives, leans back or rolls, the shocks or struts need to be replaced. Braking transfers the weight of the vehicle to the front, and if the shocks and/or struts are worn out, this will cause the car's nose to dive or dip down much more than you're used to.
The Three-Second Rule
The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance. Determining the three-second gap is relatively easy. When following a vehicle, pick an overhead road sign, a tree or other roadside marker.
The disadvantages:
In areas with old buildings and narrow streets, it is rather difficult to drive. An SUV vehicle can cause inconvenience in traffic jams and parking lots. Costs. Being the owner of an SUV vehicle is more expensive in all aspects: from fuel consumption to maintenance.
Comfortable driving. Towing capabilities built in and more cargo space. SUVs weigh more than cars and offer better handling in challenging weather and bad road conditions. The available all-wheel or four-wheel drive that SUVs offer give you incredible handling compared to what a car can give you.
Generally, SUVs are able to take the force of a collision more effectively than smaller cars due to them being larger and heavier, reducing the chance of injury for all occupants. But they're not only good when in a crash, they're also proficient in preventing them too.
You should apply the four-second rule when it's wet, frosty or when you are towing a trailer. The four-second rule means that you leave four seconds between you and the vehicle in front. It gives you more time to react and more time to stop.
Tips to Curb Your Wheels Safely and Legally
If you're faced downhill, turn your front wheels towards the curb. If you're faced uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back until it gently touches the curb.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the steering wheel should sit 10 inches away from the driver's chest for optimal safety. However, many drivers don't abide by this rule, and because of the way drivers' airbags are designed, sitting too close can be very dangerous.
Make sure you are not so high so that you have to bend your head down or to the side in order to see. If you are still too low after adjusting to the maximum height, try adding a cushion or wedge to the seat. Cushions also decrease vibrations from the road which have been shown to contribute to injuries.
A car with a dependent suspension has a solid axle that connects the tires on the left and right of the car. So, as the left wheel goes down, the right wheel goes up. Automotive enthusiasts often recommend dependent suspension vehicles for driving on the roughest terrain.
This can cause swaying and bouncing. To summarize, the four main reasons for your car bouncing or swaying are wheels that are not aligned, excessive or uneven wear on the tires, damaged struts and worn shock absorbers, or a loose steering linkage.
A car that is leaning to one side is almost always experiencing an issue with the shocks, springs, struts, chassis, or suspension. These are all critical parts of the vehicle, and should not be dismissed. Continuing to drive a vehicle that is leaning to one side or the other can do further damage to these components.
Common reasons for this to happen: Stuck struts, springs, and shock absorbers: Struts are what suspends the body of your vehicle above the wheels. They help transfer the weight of the car to the wheels. They also contain the shock absorbers, which help absorb the impact of the road so that you have a smooth ride.
One or more of your tires may be low on air pressure or the tire treads could be uneven. You may also have a bad wheel bearing or loose bolt that is causing one of the wheels to pull the car out of alignment. You may have a damaged brake component, a seized up caliper or unevenly worn brake pads/rotors.