Should the back be pressed against the seat when driving?
3 Answers
There are no specific regulations, as long as the driver feels comfortable. The car seat can be adjusted forward and backward, and if it's not high enough, a cushion can be placed behind. The basic requirements for car seats are: 1. Proper positioning: The arrangement of seats within the entire cabin should be reasonable, especially the driver's seat must be in the optimal position. 2. Safety assurance: The seat must be safe and reliable, with sufficient strength, stiffness, and durability, compact in structure, and minimizing weight as much as possible. Various adjustment mechanisms designed to meet the comfort of drivers and passengers should have reliable locking devices to ensure safety.
After driving for so many years, I've realized how crucial the relationship between your back and the seat really is. During track runs, coaches always emphasize keeping your back snug against the seat cushion—I used to find it bothersome. It wasn't until I experienced the sensation of being tightly secured by the seatbelt during high-speed cornering that I understood: when your lower back and shoulder blades are firmly pressed against the seatback, you get the most direct feedback from the car's dynamics, and your waist won't be left unsupported during sharp steering. Driving in a semi-reclined position, with enough gap between the seatbelt and your body to fit a fist, means you'll definitely slide forward during emergency braking. Our team's crash tests show that a proper seated posture can reduce whiplash injury risks by 40%. But there's no need to sit as stiffly as standing guard during military drills—adjusting the lumbar support to just match the natural curve of your spine is the most scientific approach.
When it comes to long-distance driving, the comfort of back support is the ultimate decider for how long you can stay behind the wheel. Last time I drove the Qinghai-Tibet route, I adjusted the lumbar support to fit the natural curve of my spine, and my back didn’t ache even after eight hours. The key is not to 'press rigidly'—sit your hips as far back as possible, let your back naturally follow the seat’s contour, and keep your knees slightly lower than your hips to distribute weight evenly. I’ve seen people drive with their entire back unsupported, complaining of back pain in less than two hours. Some cars now come with electric lumbar support that automatically adjusts to hold your lower back while driving, noticeably reducing wobble over speed bumps.
