Position yourself properly by taking it from the bottom

Concert pianists don't sit sideways with one arm over the back of a chair. Golfers don't just stroll up to the ball and swing away. Both go to great lengths to position their body for the task, knowing it will make a big difference to the outcome.

Why wouldn't motorists do the same? They should: proper positioning at the wheel is crucial to how quickly and effectively you can take evasive action,.

Almost everything in a vehicle is designed around the driver. The controls are shaped and positioned to allow ease of access and operation. The windows, instrument panel, doors and mirrors are all aligned to maximize vision. The airbag and belt systems so crucial to survival are located to protect occupants properly positioned in the seats.

Proper seating position starts from the bottom. When you first get into a vehicle, or back into one where things have been changed by another driver, the first thing to do is to adjust the fore-aft position of the seat.

Start with the bottom cushion. Sit in the seat with your butt as far to the rear as possible and your back firmly against the backrest.

Adjust the seat so that your left foot can be positioned solidly on the floor behind the brake pedal with your knee slightly bent. Being able to reach the brake pedal is not enough. In a severe incident, you would be amazed how much pressure you need from your thigh muscles, how far that pedal moves and how much your body will move around behind the wheel.

Next adjust the backrest so that your chest is a safe distance from the airbag mounted in the steering wheel -- 20 cm to 25 cm. You should be able to drape your hand over the top of the wheel without taking your shoulder blades off the seat back. Touch it at the spot where your hand becomes your wrist.

When you drop your hands to the proper position your elbows will be slightly bent and you will be able to turn the wheel a full 180 degrees without taking your hands off the wheel.

The relation of the upper body to the wheel is the most common cause of both injury and incident. Too close and there is the risk of injury from the airbag and the likelihood of getting your arms crossed up with one another. Too far from the wheel and you won't be able to turn it sufficiently in a hurry.

Now it's time to adjust the height of the seat. While this is not possible in many cars, it is becoming increasingly more common. The goal is to get as high as you can, to sit tall, allowing a better sight line and maximum visibility. Some people may need a cushion or a set of quality pedal extenders.

The last step in setting the seat is the head restraint. Note that it's a head restraint not a head rest. Its purpose is to provide protection from whiplash and other injuries in a crash -- not to help you relax. Too low and your head will go over the top if you're hit from the rear. Too high and your head might try to get under it.

Now, set the mirrors. The rear window should be framed in the rear view mirror. Set it to show the two rear pillars as well as the roofline and the bottom of the window. The average driver fails to set the side mirrors out far enough and that will be next week's subject.

Halifax-based Richard Russell runs a driving school