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South Dakota driving lesson · Before You Drive

Adjusting your seat and mirrors

A 3-minute lesson from the South Dakota course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Before You Drive
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
22

Set your seat and mirrors before you start driving. A good position gives you full control of the pedals and wheel, room for the air bag to deploy, and the widest possible view.

Know the rule

Sit upright with your back against the seat and feet on the floor; slouching reduces the effectiveness of the restraint system.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Seat checklist:

  • Your foot pivots smoothly from brake to accelerator with your heel on the floor
  • Top of the steering wheel no higher than the top of your shoulders, and below chin level
  • 10 inches between your chest and the steering wheel
  • Don't recline the seat, or move it so far forward you can't steer easily
  • Head restraint touches the back of your head, not below the level of your ears
Handbook p. 22 ↗
10 inches

Space between your chest and the steering wheel

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Head restraints are designed to prevent whiplash.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

The inside mirror is the primary mirror for the view to the rear; adjust it to frame the rear window, and set a day/night mirror for the time of day.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Setting the outside mirrors to reduce blind spots:

  • Left: rest your head against the closed window; set the mirror to barely show the car's side
  • Right: lean so your head is below the rearview mirror, then set it the same way
  • You won't see your car's sides in these mirrors, but you gain 12 to 16 degrees of view per side
Handbook p. 22 ↗
Enhanced mirror settings
Enhanced mirror settings reduce blind spots

Put it into practice

You borrow a taller friend's car. Before shifting out of park, slide the seat until there's about 10 inches between your chest and the wheel, set the head restraint against the back of your head, and reset all three mirrors.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

How much space should there be between your chest and the steering wheel?
  1. 20 inches
  2. 5 inches
  3. 10 inches
  4. 2 inches

Answer: 10 inches

The handbook recommends about 10 inches between your chest and the steering wheel.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
Where should a head restraint contact your head?
  1. The back of your head, not below your ears
  2. The base of your neck
  3. The top of your head
  4. Just below your ears

Answer: The back of your head, not below your ears

Head restraints should contact the back of the head, not below the level of your ears, to help prevent whiplash.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
When adjusting outside mirrors to reduce blind spots, how much extra viewing area does the recommended method add to each side?
  1. 25 to 30 degrees
  2. 5 to 10 degrees
  3. 2 to 4 degrees
  4. 12 to 16 degrees

Answer: 12 to 16 degrees

The recommended mirror-adjustment method adds 12 to 16 degrees of additional viewing area to each side.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
Which mirror is the primary mirror for viewing traffic to the rear of the vehicle?
  1. The right outside mirror
  2. The left outside mirror
  3. Both outside mirrors equally
  4. The inside rearview mirror

Answer: The inside rearview mirror

The inside mirror is the primary mirror for viewing to the rear; it should be adjusted to frame the rear window.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
What should you do before starting to drive regarding your seat and mirrors?
  1. Adjust them at the first stop sign
  2. Adjust both before you start driving
  3. Adjust them while driving slowly
  4. Adjust the mirrors only; the seat stays set

Answer: Adjust both before you start driving

Adjust the seat and mirrors before you start to drive so you have full control and clear visibility.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
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