How close should you sit to the steering wheel

Move your seat back as far as you can while still comfortably reaching the pedals. You should be at least 10 inches from the steering wheel, from your breastbone to the center of the wheel.

Ideally, the back of your car seat should reach the height of your shoulders. If it is slightly higher or lower but you can still rest into it, it will be fine in most circumstances. Most car seats come with adjustable headrests. Ideally, you should be able to adjust both the height and the front-to-back position.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration along with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety state that a distance of 10 or more inches from the steering wheel is safe.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that roughly 10 inches or further is an optimal distance between a driver and their steering wheel, due to the amount of power that an airbag can produce when it deploys, this will help keep you safe.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends drivers sit with at least 10 inches between the center of their breastbone and the center of the steering wheel. Children 12 and under should always ride properly restrained in a rear seat.

Use the 4-second rule.

This could be a road sign, a tree, or even a piece of tire on the shoulder of the highway. Count the number of seconds in between the car in front of you passing the object and your vehicle passing it. If you count at least 4 seconds, you are at a safe following distance.

Hand position on steering wheel

You probably learned to keep your hands at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions on the steering wheel. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends drivers put their hands at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions.