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Set up the car before you move

Seat, wheel, head restraint, belt and mirrors: the checks that come before the first metre

  • Driving basics 1 / 7
  • Time: 10–15 min
  • Free

Goal

Set the seat, wheel, head restraint, belt and mirrors correctly before you move, and know why each setting matters.

Animated scenarios in this lesson

Seat and steering wheel

You have just got into the car. The seat, backrest and steering wheel are where the last driver left them.

Rule: Sit so you can press the pedals fully down and steer comfortably. Too far from the wheel makes steering harder; too close risks injury from the airbag in a crash. Hands go on opposite sides of the rim, lower than the old “ten to two” grip, which is no longer taught.

Do this: Move the seat so the pedal can be pressed fully with the leg still slightly bent, set the backrest fairly upright, then adjust the wheel up/down and in/out until you reach it with slightly bent arms and can see the instruments.

Not this: Sitting far back with a stretched leg, or tucked right up to the wheel with sharply bent knees and elbows.

Head restraint and seat belt

The seat is set. Now you check the head restraint and put on the belt.

Rule: Trafikverket: the upper part of the head restraint is level with the top of the head, as close to the head as possible; a more upright backrest reduces the gap, and a backrest leaning too far back lets you slide under the belt. The belt lies against the shoulder close to the neck, the lap belt over the hips, not twisted and tightened after fastening. Everyone in a car with belts must use a belt seat and the belt (4 kap. 10 § Trafikförordningen).

Do this: Raise the restraint until its top is level with the top of your head, make the backrest more upright if the gap is large, put the shoulder belt close to the neck and the lap belt low over the hips, remove slack and avoid thick coats under the belt.

Not this: Leaving the restraint at neck height with a big gap behind the head, or letting the belt cross the stomach or the arm.

Setting the mirrors

You are seated and belted. Next come the inner mirror and the two side mirrors.

Rule: Trafikverket and Trafiko: set the inner mirror to show as much of the rear window as possible and the side mirrors so that you see only a small part of your own car. Set the seat first, because the mirrors depend on where your head is. A small blind spot always remains: a shoulder check covers it (lesson 3).

Do this: Set the seat first, then the inner mirror to show the whole rear window, then each side mirror so that only a thin strip of your own car is visible. Cover the small blind spot that remains with a look over your shoulder.

Not this: Turning the side mirrors too far in, so they show your own car, overlap the inner mirror and leave a wide blind spot.

Why the set-up comes first

A good driving position lets you reach the pedals and the wheel, see all round and stay in control. It also lets the car’s safety equipment work the way it was designed to.

The practical test expects you to adjust the seat, head restraint, steering wheel, mirrors and belt yourself before you drive.

Do it every time you take over a car, even if someone else drove it a minute ago.

Seat and backrest

Sit comfortably with your back well into the seat.

Move the seat so you can press the pedals fully down. In a manual car, with the clutch fully pressed, your leg should be almost straight.

Too far from the wheel makes steering harder. Too close risks injury from the airbag in a crash.

Do not lean the backrest too far back: in a crash you can slide under the belt, and your head ends up far from the head restraint.

Steering wheel and hands

Adjust the wheel up/down and in/out until you reach it comfortably and can see the instruments.

Place your hands on opposite sides of the rim. Hands high on the wheel risk airbag injury and hands too low make steering harder, so the old “ten to two” grip is no longer taught.

Head restraint

The top of the head restraint should be level with the top of your head, also for tall people.

The gap between your head and the restraint should be as small as possible. Make the backrest more upright to reduce it.

The restraint protects your neck, for example when the car is hit from behind.

Seat belt

Everyone in a car that has belts must use a seat with a belt and wear it (4 kap. 10 § Trafikförordningen). Children shorter than 135 cm use a child seat, booster or other child restraint instead of, or together with, the belt.

The shoulder belt lies against the shoulder, as close to the neck as possible. The lap belt runs over the hips, not over the stomach.

The belt must not be twisted and should sit as close to the body as possible. Tighten it after fastening, and avoid thick outer clothing under it.

A belt roughly halves the risk of being killed or seriously injured in a collision: Trafikverket gives a 50–70 % lower risk.

The law allows driving without the belt when the car is stationary, when reversing and inside parking areas, petrol-station and workshop areas (4 kap. 10 d §). That is a permission, not advice: the safest habit is to keep it on whenever the car moves.

Mirrors

Set the seat first: the mirrors depend on where your head is.

Inner mirror: show as much of the rear window as possible.

Side mirrors: only a small part of your own car should be visible.

The mirrors never cover everything. The strip beside and slightly behind the car is the blind spot: see lesson 3.

Check the mirrors again if you move the seat or someone else has used the car.

Key numbers

  • Top of head: Where the top of the head restraint should be
  • Almost straight: The leg when the clutch pedal is fully pressed
  • 135 cm: Children shorter than this use a child seat or booster
  • 50–70 %: Lower risk of being killed or seriously injured when wearing a belt (Trafikverket)

Common mistakes

  • A head restraint at neck or shoulder height is wrong: its top is level with the top of the head.
  • A bigger gap behind the head is worse, not better.
  • Side mirrors that show a lot of your own car leave a bigger blind spot.
  • A belt over the stomach, twisted or loose, or with thick coats under it, protects less.
  • Not having to wear the belt when reversing is a legal exception, not advice.

Sources

Facts checked against sources on 2026-10-02.

Lesson 25: Crash Safety · Lesson 26: Child Safety Seats · Lesson 30: Safety Checks

Moving off safely