ADVOCACY
You’re in the Driver’s Seat
Utilize your vehicle’s comfort and safety features to the fullest and optimize your driving experience.
By Bryan James
Minor adjustments to your seat and mirrors could make your drive safer and more comfortable. | PHOTO: DUSAN PETKOVIC/ADOBE STOCK
AS A DRIVER, especially a seasoned one, getting into the car and going for a drive is done without a second thought. You set your mirrors and adjusted your seat at some point long ago, and they seem just fine. But is it? Are you sure your car is set up ideally for both safety and comfort? Are you using all of your vehicle’s safety features and technology to your advantage?
Tamalea Stone is a nationally recognized occupational therapist with expertise in driving assessment and rehabilitation. She says that comfort and safety always start with the proper seating position. “Your eyes should be [a minimum of] three inches above the steering wheel, and you should be 10 inches away from the wheel to allow the air bag to deploy,” she advises. “Mirrors should be angled out to minimize the blind spot. All [drivers] should see is the back of the rear-door handle.”
A sub-optimal driving position is not just a safety consideration; it impacts your health and comfort, too. With trucks, SUVs and larger vehicles, this issue can be more pronounced. “It can result in neck strain or back pain,” she cautions. “If you don’t have a clear view and have to look up over the wheel, that can cause musculoskeletal problems within the neck, and tension can increase. When someone’s tense and not comfortable behind the wheel, they are less likely to be able to react in a timely manner to an unexpected situation. Proper fit really supports the safety and comfort of the driver — and affects the safety of other drivers, too.”
“A sub-optimal driving position is not just a safety consideration; it impacts your health and comfort, too.”
(From left) New technology, such as a blind-spot monitoring system, can make your drive safer; occupational therapist Tamalea Stone helps drivers enhance comfort and safety; make sure you know how to use your hands-free dashboard infotainment system before you start driving. | PHOTOS: (FROM LEFT) UFLYPRO/ADOBE STOCK; COURTESY OF TAMALEA STONE; ANDRBK/ADOBE STOCK
Stone also believes it’s important to take full advantage of available driver assistance systems — but notes that it can be hard to keep on top of the technology in modern vehicles, leading some drivers to switch systems off or ignore the potential benefits. Instruction may also be hard to come by: not all dealers or sellers walk buyers through the full gamut of the vehicle’s capabilities.
Because our cognitive capacity is limited and ingrained habits are hard to change, Stone suggests prioritizing both safety and convenience technologies that will make the most difference to your situation. For example, just about everyone has a smartphone with a Bluetooth connection, so it makes sense to set up hands-free connectivity to access apps, and to learn how to use the interface properly for things like answering a call or setting up navigation in order to minimize driver distraction.
“Many people will also benefit from blind-spot notifications,” she adds, “either because peripheral vision can be reduced in older drivers, or because people simply aren’t doing shoulder checks, and are missing pieces of information as a result — especially in congested cities.” Conversely, if you live in a rural area, you might not be as concerned about spotting e-scooters, but on a long, straight road, a lane-departure warning system could help keep you safe in the event of distraction or fatigue. These systems have been created to enhance the user experience.
Whatever the technology, it’s crucial to learn how to use and respond to it properly so you’re not trying to figure it out while you’re driving. In the absence of a government education program, Stone suggests consulting your vehicle’s user manual, vehicle dealers and online resources, or checking for any car clinics in your area.
The next time you get into the driver’s seat, take a moment to consider Stone’s recommendations and ensure you’ve optimized your vehicle’s features to provide you with the best possible comfort and safety on the road. CAA
The CarFit Program
CarFit is an educational program run by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists in conjunction with CAA, which aims to help drivers make the most of their vehicle’s safety features.
The CarFit program runs free events across the country and also offers virtual appointments. Drivers can spend 20 minutes with a trained technician to run through a 12-point checklist that looks at factors such as mirrors, field of vision, seatbelt fit and steering wheel position. Occupational therapists are on-site to solve problems when necessary.
(From top) New technology, such as a blind-spot monitoring system, can make your drive safer; occupational therapist Tamalea Stone helps drivers enhance comfort and safety; make sure you know how to use your hands-free dashboard infotainment system before you start driving. | PHOTOS: (FROM TOP) UFLYPRO/ADOBE STOCK; COURTESY OF TAMALEA STONE; ANDRBK/ADOBE STOCK