On the Road Again...
It is estimated that UK drivers spend an average of 293 hours per year driving. Over 20% of that time is likely to be commuting to work, with another 35 hours visiting friends and family.
As more people return to work, as well as plan UK holidays, and that's not including all the people who drive for a living, we look at some tips to help ease some of that tension.
Driving can be a stressful experience for even the most relaxed of drivers, but this is compounded by poor driving positions, which leads to tension in your body.
Top tips for driving posture:
Seat position - make sure this is correct for you before you set off - the back of the seat should tip back slightly and your elbows should be at a comfortable and relaxed angle
Steering wheel - again make sure this is the right height for you, don't just make do. The wheel should not be so low it is brushing your legs, or too high and far away that your arms are locked straight
Mirrors should be positioned so you can easily see without having to keep moving your head
Your seatbelt should lie across the top of your shoulder - not rub against your neck or fall onto the top of your arm - move your seat again if necessary. If this still doesn't work, you can purchase a purpose made clip to adjust the belt without impacting on your safety
Pedals should be easily accessed and operated by moving your ankles, not need to use the whole leg
Avoid wearing high heels or thick soled shoes as this will cause you to overstretch the ankle. Not only could this impact on your ability to handle an emergency stop, it also adjusts your thigh height, which means your seat is not supporting you properly. This can lead to tension and cramp on long journeys.
So what about when you're on the road?
Here's a few tips to help:
Wear loose fitting clothing and make sure you can move freely before you set off
Try to relax - keeping your position soft reduces stress on your spine
Plan your route before you go, including regular breaks - the British Chiropractic Association recommends stopping to stretching your legs every two hours as a minimum. If you are uncomfortable you should stop more frequently.
If you are stuck in traffic use the time to do a little exercise - clench your buttock muscles, roll your neck and shoulders, bend side to side and do seat braces (pushing your hands into the steering wheel and your back into the seat, tensing and relaxing)
Allow time - much of our stress is caused by concern around lateness. Plan in sufficient time to include unexpected disruptions such as roadworks - it's so much nicer to discover you have some unplanned time to fill because you arrive early.