Personal Defense Network Editors

Vehicular Defense Driving Positions and Vehicle Set Up

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Duration:   7  mins

Tips on how to properly train for defensive driving including steering wheel management, body positions, vehicle dynamics and more.

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3 Responses to “Vehicular Defense Driving Positions and Vehicle Set Up”

  1. Art Frewin

    all my cars are standard transmissions. so, planting my foot will not work. i feel better with my seat belt off, i know it is the law. i have paid the fine, but i feel i want to be able to move quickly if the need arises. never seen an air bag deployed, and only one of my 3 cars has one. it is hard for me to understand why having your thumbs wraped around the steering wheel will break them. doesn't the air bag deploy straight back and if it deployes out to the side of the steering wheel would it not just press the thumbs into the steering wheel? my mind works in pictures and i can not see this one in my head. i just do not understand i know the air bag cover has to come off and always thought you would get hit with it. what we need is a video in slow mo to see what is actually happening.

  2. RobertDDonaldson

    mmm.    some good common sense ideas.   One major inaccuracy.     Watching other drivers, I note that few understand the potential for the airbag to injure them.  As noted in the video,  if hands are not properly positioned (below 3:00-9:00) with thumb outside, an airbag deployment will dislocate or break their thumbs.    A deployment with the hand on top of the steering wheel (a very common position) will result in a broken arm, but worse, the arm will be broken across the face resulting in total incapacitation and serious possibly fatal head injury.   The seat position recommendation is wrong.   The seat should be positioned so that the airbag will not strike the head.  If it does, you are out for the count, and a very long count at that.   Seats should be positioned well back, but not so far that steering is impaired.  This is further back than the standard American driving position (sitting bolt upright, arms bent 90 degrees).  Standard American driving position guarantees an airbag strike to the head.    Security conscious drivers should investigate and practice the European driving position (arms out, only slightly bent) to reduce the likelihood of being incapacitated by the airbag.  The young presenter needed some coaching, and a few more takes.  He came across as inarticulate.  I'm sure he isn't.   This is a video production problem.

  3. Boxerpapa1

    Excellent video. Thanks for sharing the information. 

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