What is the impact of seat height on reference points during reverse parking?
2 Answers
There will be an impact. Different heights of the driver's seat will result in variations when observing the rearview mirror and determining the timing of surrounding vehicle markers. Consequently, the driver may experience timing errors when turning the steering wheel during reverse parking or moving forward, potentially causing the vehicle to cross the line during operation. Below are the detailed explanations: 1. Standard for seat adjustment in Subject 2 (Parking Tests): Vertical adjustment: When adjusting the seat height, ensure there is at least one fist's distance between the head and the car roof. Horizontal adjustment: Place both feet on the clutch pedal and brake pedal, with knees slightly bent. When fully depressing the pedals, there should still be some bend in the legs. Lumbar support: Adjust the seat to support the lower back, leaning back to avoid leaving the lumbar area unsupported, which reduces driving fatigue. If the seat lacks lumbar support, a cushion can be placed in the lower back area. 2. Specific impacts: Subject 2 maneuvers such as hill starts, 90-degree turns, and reverse parking all require reference points. If the seat is adjusted, these reference points will change. If the seat height is unsuitable for the driver, errors may occur during reverse parking.
The height of the seat during reverse parking directly affects the judgment of reference points. If the seat is adjusted too high, the ground reference in the rearview mirror will appear lower than its actual position, leading to misjudgment of the corner distance and causing the wheels to cross the line. Last time, I forgot to adjust the seat and ended up parking the training car crookedly. On the other hand, if the seat is too low, it obstructs the view, with the lower edge of the rear windshield covering half of the key parking line. Now, every time I get in the car, I first adjust the seat position to ensure my knees are slightly bent, allowing me to see the entire front of the car and simultaneously view the left rear wheel and the yellow corner line in the rearview mirror. Different car models also have varying reference points; for example, SUVs have a higher rearview mirror angle than sedans, making it even more important to maintain a fixed seating position.
