If you are like the many Americans that drive to work, you probably spend anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes in your car each day. This adds up to a lot of sitting time, and unfortunately, most people don’t learn how to counter the effects on their posture when first learning to drive. If you’d like to correct this, implement the tips from professional driving school instructors below. 

How to Protect Your Posture While Driving?

1. Raise the Seat

One of the first steps professional driving school instructors teach is correctly adjusting the seat before driving. This requires raising the chair as high as it will comfortably go so that you maintain a complete view of the road; however, make sure you can still sufficiently touch the pedals. Doing this allows your pelvis to rest in a neutral position, which will prevent a slouched back and allow you to remain comfortable.

2. Keep Knees Slightly Bent

After correcting the seat height, professional driving school instructors will ask that you readjust the distance of the chair from the pedals. When you are sitting, your knees should have a slight bend between 120 to 135 degrees. Avoid increasing the angle; this could mess with your pelvic positioning and cause pain around the hamstrings or gluteal muscles.  

3. Tuck in Elbows

As you are driving, remember to keep your elbows pulled in low and close to the body. This keeps your shoulders in a relaxed and neutral position. Flaring your elbows repeatedly or over long car rides can cause the shoulders to hunch and can lead to irritation in the muscles surrounding the elbows and the tendons on the back of the arms. 

If you are just learning to drive, come to Bob Shropshire Sons Driving School in Cincinnati, OH, to learn the safest and most useful skills. For over 90 years, these driving school instructors have provided quality in-car and in-class driver training for teens and adults. They offer a personal touch tailored to suit each person’s needs. Visit their website and call them today at (513) 721-3915 to learn more about their available driving classes and dedicated instructors.