The Solutions to the Driving Challenges for Short People
The struggles of short people are real. They are the butt of jokes in friend circles, they can’t reach the upper shelf in the kitchen, and it’s a nightmare when it comes to motoring. Driving challenges for short people are not only real but also can affect their safety. If you are a short person, you have to learn to live with them. But, knowing the ways to overcome them will keep you safe on the road.
Driving Challenges for Short People
You will have a hard time motoring when you are less than five feet or just five feet something. It seems that automobile manufacturers don’t think of short people when they design a new car. So, what are the hurdles, and how you can deal with them? Let’s find out:
Curtailed vision.
You have to see the front part of your vehicle to judge the distance between the car and other things. When you are sitting too low in the driving seat, a fender bender is inevitable while parking or pulling up behind another vehicle.
The position of the steering wheel is higher on the dashboard in some older model cars. If you have one of them, the steering wheel will be in front of your eyesight.
The only solution is choosing one of the newer models that feature adjustable seats and steering wheel. If you are stuck with the oldie, use a seat cushion to gain some height.
The glaring sun.
One of the most irritating driving challenges for short people is to be on the road in the morning or evening. The sun remains low in the sky at these times and the sun visor won’t be enough to block the sun’s rays if you are not tall enough.
What can you do about it? Wear a visor cap. It is adjustable, allowing you to block the sun’s rays from any angle.
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Headrest’s position.
The job of a headrest is to protect the driver from whiplash in the event of an accident. When you are short, your head will be tilting at an awkward angle instead of resting on the headrest. It can also cause several neck injuries even if there is no accident. You can avoid the problems by choosing a vehicle with adjustable headrests. Or, visit your local garage and customize its position to have better support.
Seat Belt and Shoulder Strap
The driving challenges for short people could turn into serious safety issues when it comes to the seat belt and shoulder strap. The shoulder strap could end up buckling around the neck of people who have a smaller height. Buying and installing a seat belt adjuster is the easiest fix to this problem.
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Driving Tips For Short People
Choose a suitable car
This is the most important key that drivers need to pay attention to when choosing to buy a vehicle. According to the experts, you should choose to buy a car with a compact size.
Currently, on the market, there are quite a lot of hatchback and sedan models in the A-class small car segment that fit this criterion such as the Hyundai Grand i10, Kia Morning, Mitsubishi Mirage, Chevrolet Spark, Suzuki Celerio or Toyota Wigo…
The right distance between the steering wheel and the seat of these compact cars will help short people have good visibility and feel more comfortable when driving.
Adjust the driver’s seat
Short people are often concerned about limited visibility when driving a car. To overcome this limitation, you can refer to a useful tip from experienced drivers, which is to use a seat cushion. This pad will improve visibility, help you see better as well, and eliminate the situation of having to reach for the steering wheel.
However, you should note that the installation of additional seat cushions needs to be done carefully, from choosing the style of material to the placement so that it does not cause discomfort when sitting. Besides, the cushion needs to be firmly placed to avoid slipping while driving the vehicle.
Install additional pedals
The limitation of short people not only makes it difficult for you to see and handle the steering wheel but also in the process of stepping on the accelerator and braking the car due to short legs. The advice for you is to add a pedal unit to overcome this problem. You also should note that you need to choose a pedal of the appropriate size as well as convenient for you to operate easily.
What Is the Best Car for Short Drivers?
Short people should not consider themselves deprived because there are many excellent cars out there that they can handle without any trouble.
The Subaru Forester will certainly make it into the top five on this list because of its higher-than-average ride height, which refers to the height of the body when you are in the driver’s seat. It offers great visibility on all sides along with a roomy interior and amazing fuel efficiency.
The luxurious Lexus LS can also solve the driving challenges for short people with its super adjustable seats and responsive handling. Other suitable choices could be the Acura RLX, Lexus ES, and BMW 7 Series.
