How tall do you need to be to practice driving without a cushion?
3 Answers
It is generally recommended that students under 1.6 meters in height prepare a cushion, just in case. Of course, the main factor is the height of the driver's seat. If a 1.6-meter-tall student sits on it and the distance between their head and the car roof is more than a fist, a cushion is needed. Some test cars have adjustable seat heights. Adjusting the seat to its highest position, leaving a fist's worth of space between the head and the roof, is usually appropriate, and then a cushion is not necessary. Here are some additional tips for Subject 2: Press the clutch pedal all the way down with your left foot and hold it steady. Hold the steering wheel with your right hand and adjust the seat with your left hand until your left leg is comfortably bent and can exert force. Then lock the seat in place. The backrest angle should allow your body to form a 90-degree angle.
When I first learned to drive, my instructor told me that people over 165 cm tall generally don’t need a seat cushion because the seat can be manually adjusted to a suitable position. At the time, I was exactly 165 cm and initially worried about poor visibility. However, once I got in the car and adjusted the seat angle and height, I could clearly see the rearview mirror and the road ahead, which felt quite safe. Of course, everyone’s body proportions are different—for example, longer legs or a shorter torso might affect visibility. I recommend that beginners measure their height before practice and test their visibility in the driver’s seat. If you can’t see the road clearly, don’t force it—using a cushion for temporary adjustment is fine. The key is to prioritize safety. From that experience, I learned that driving visibility is crucial, and insufficient height increases the risk of rear-end collisions, so it’s best to operate under the guidance of an instructor.
When teaching my child to drive, I found that a height of around 170 cm eliminates the need for a seat cushion. At the beginning when my child was learning and around 160 cm tall, it was still manageable, but after reaching 170 cm, adjusting the seat higher provided a completely sufficient view. Actually, this depends largely on the type of car—smaller sedans might require a shorter height, but with our SUV, the seats are more flexible and a slight adjustment does the trick. I also reminded my child to check if the seat adjustment function works properly before practice driving, not to rely solely on cushions as they might slip and cause danger. Here’s a handy tip: regularly maintain the mechanical parts of the seat to prevent rust and jamming. In short, while height differences vary, once you reach over 170 cm, most cars can handle it effortlessly, making it both convenient and safe.
