Most car seat can be adjusted in four ways. Forwards and backwards, up and down, the angle of the back (sometimes know as the rake) can be changed, and the head restraint can be adjusted up and down (sometimes forward and backwards as well).
The first check to make when adjusting your seat is to press the clutch pedal fully to the floor with your left foot. Your left knee should be slightly bent, with no need to stretch.
Place both your hands at top of the steering wheel. Your elbows should be very slightly bent. If not continue to adjust the seat until this is so (this can be a good time to adjust the rake).
When your seat is correctly adjusted, you should be able to run your hands from the top to the bottom of the steering wheel with ease. You should also be able to push the clutch fully down and release it without any problem. Make sure you can see clearly over the steering wheel and into the road ahead.
Some cars allow you to adjust the angle of the steering wheel. This can be helpful in getting a good driving position and maximising visibility.
The head restraint should be close behind your head (but not touching) and the firm part of it should be roughly level with your ears.
The easiest way to grab your seatbelt is to use your left hand and reach over your right shoulder. Once clicked into its socket, the seatbelt should sit flat against you without any twists. Check it is properly engaged and will not pull free of the socket without pressing the release button. You should still be able to lean forward in your seat and the seatbelt should extend to allow this.
When you release your seatbelt, it may try to spring back to its starting position very quickly. Keep hold of it so it reels back in gently.
The driver is legally responsable to ensure that they, and passengers under the age of 14 wear seatbelts when the car is moving. Passengers 14 and over are legally responsible for their own.
Blindspots are areas which are not covered by your peripheral vision or your mirrors. It is surprisingly easy for another road user to disappear in one of these blindspots. It is also surprising how close to you they can get while in this hidden position.
With effective and regular use of mirrors it will be very difficult for another road user to get into a blindspot without you knowing about it. However, anytime you find yourself in a situation in which you are not sure what is there, a quick glance over your shoulder is all that is needed to fill in the gap.
It is also important to be aware that additional blindspots are created by the pillars which connect the roof of a car to its body. Most cars have two pillars at the front (either side of the windscreen), two in the middle, and two more at the back (either side of the rear window). It can be surprising how easily another road user can disappear into one of these blindspots. Be particularly mindful of the possibility of cars, motorcyclists and cyclists being hidden in this way when you are emerging at junctions. When reversing, watch out for pedestrians who may be hidden by the rear pillars. Move your head around to ensure you are checking these blindspots whenever necessary.
