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Tennessee driving lesson · Vehicle Control & Defensive Driving

Seat, mirrors & hand position

A 4-minute lesson from the Tennessee 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
4 minutes
Course unit
Vehicle Control & Defensive Driving
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
41, 42

Driving takes more than grabbing the keys. A few minutes of setup — checking the car, adjusting the seat and mirrors, buckling up — gives you control, a clear view and protection if something goes wrong.

Before you drive

  • Walk around the car: look for small children, pets and obstructions
  • Check windows, lights, body damage, tires and fluid leaks
  • Get in, put the key in the ignition and lock the doors
  • Find every switch, gauge and pedal
Handbook p. 41 ↗

Know where these are, even if you don't need them yet

  • Horn
  • Turn signals
  • Emergency (four-way) flashers
  • Headlights and dimmer switch
  • Wipers and washer
  • Parking brake and release
  • Heater, A/C and defroster
  • Gearshift (and clutch, if manual)
Handbook p. 41 ↗

Proper driving posture

  • Seat upright — never reclined or semi-reclined
  • Reach the pedals easily; pivot from gas to brake with your heel on the floor
  • Clear view through the windshield, side windows and mirrors
  • Top of the steering wheel no higher than the top of your shoulders
  • Head restraint level with the back of your head to prevent whiplash
Handbook p. 41 ↗
10 to 12 inches

Distance between your body and the steering wheel, so an air bag hits your chest, not your face

Handbook p. 41 ↗

Know the rule

Adjust the mirrors after the seat, and always before driving.

Handbook p. 41 ↗

Setting your mirrors

Setting your mirrors
MirrorHow to set it
Inside rearviewFrame the rear window; just the edge of the right rear post
Left sideHead against left window; barely see your car's side
Right sideHead above center console; barely see your car's side
Handbook p. 41 ↗

Know the rule

To check: lean back slightly — if you see more than a glimpse of your rear corners, adjust the mirrors outward. As a car passing on your left leaves the inside mirror, its front bumper should appear in the left mirror.

Handbook p. 41 ↗

Know the rule

Even perfectly set mirrors leave blind spots. Always turn your head and check before changing lanes or turning.

Handbook p. 41 ↗

Know the rule

Wear the lap belt firmly across your hips and the shoulder belt across your shoulder, and make sure every passenger is belted or in a proper child seat before you move.

Handbook p. 42 ↗

Know the rule

Hold the wheel with your left hand at 9 o'clock and right hand at 3 o'clock. Your elbows should bend slightly when your palm reaches the top of the wheel — never lock your arms stiff.

Handbook p. 42 ↗

Put it into practice

You borrow your dad's car. Before starting it, slide the seat so you're 10–12 inches from the wheel, raise the head restraint to the back of your head, then set the inside mirror and both side mirrors — in that order.

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.

For proper driving posture, your body should sit about how far from the steering wheel?
  1. 10 to 12 inches
  2. 6 to 8 inches
  3. 18 to 24 inches
  4. 2 to 4 inches

Answer: 10 to 12 inches

You should sit about 10 to 12 inches back from the steering wheel, whether or not the vehicle has an air bag.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
Where should you normally place your hands on the steering wheel?
  1. 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock
  2. 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock
  3. 11 o'clock and 6 o'clock
  4. 7 o'clock and 5 o'clock

Answer: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock

Drivers should place hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions on the wheel, which also helps avoid air bag injury.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
In what order should you adjust your seat and mirrors?
  1. Mirrors first, then the seat
  2. Either order works
  3. Seat first, then the mirrors
  4. Mirrors after you start driving

Answer: Seat first, then the mirrors

You should adjust the seat to the proper position first, then adjust the mirrors afterward.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
To minimize the blind spot on the right side using the inside rearview mirror, you should adjust it so:
  1. Only the edge of the right rear window post is visible
  2. The entire back seat fills the mirror
  3. Your own face is centered in it
  4. The left rear window post is centered

Answer: Only the edge of the right rear window post is visible

Adjusting the inside mirror so only the edge of the right rear window post is seen minimizes the right-side blind spot.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
Even with properly adjusted mirrors, before changing lanes or turning you should always:
  1. Turn your head to check blind spots
  2. Rely on mirrors alone
  3. Signal only, without checking further
  4. Slow down to let cars pass

Answer: Turn your head to check blind spots

Mirrors cannot eliminate all blind spots, so you must always turn your head to check them before turning or changing lanes.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
The top of the steering wheel should be no higher than the top of your shoulders when properly seated.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Proper posture places the top of the steering wheel no higher than the top of your shoulders.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
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