Steering position

The back-rest should be adjusted so that you can reach all of the steering wheel rim (without having to stretch to reach the top of the steering wheel).

When your hands are positioned in the ten-to-two or quarter-to-three position on the wheel, your arms should be bent slightly (a simple guide to steering reach is that you should be able to to rest your wrists on the top of the wheel when sat back comfortably in the seat).

If you watch other drivers, you will notice that many people sit much too close to the wheel.

If you are very close to the wheel you will not be able to control the steering effectively. Especially in an emergency or in faster driving situations on open country roads.

When teaching you will find that some pupils might choose to sit too close to the wheel, however, you must stress that this leads to discomfort and tension. Sitting too close to the wheel is often a sign of anxiety.

Sitting too close to the wheel will also lead to discomfort and tension.

Head restraint

Make sure that your head restraint is correctly adjusted so that the supportive portion of the restraint (the bit that your head will hit in an accident) is level with your ears.

Note: it has been noticed that some drivers have removed head restraints in an effort to improve visibility when reversing. This is a very dangerous and crazy thing to do and may affect the amount of any insurance claim after an accident - occasionally driving instructors have done this to help pupils reverse but it is totally irrational because the restraints must be in place for the test - it also gives out a very dangerous message to pupils suggesting that it's OK to remove head restraints.

Survey report from 2006:

Drivers who do not take the time to ensure their head restraint is properly positioned before they set off could be risking their lives, a new report claims.

Whiplash is a considerable threat to motorists, with 200,000 cases a year and with symptoms including sickness, headaches and severe neck pain, while in some cases also causing fractures in more serious occasions.

According to a survey by Direct Line, nine out of ten drivers are under considerable threat of incurring such an injury, with 65 per cent of all drivers completely unaware of the fact that their head restraint should be exactly level with their heads.

The insurer's motor spokeswoman Emma Holyer commented: "One of the most common accidents reported to us is a rear end shunt and these are a major cause of whiplash injuries."

She continued: "We receive hundreds of calls every week from injured motorists who regret not taking those few moments to check their head restraints."

Worryingly, nearly three in five drivers errantly believe the restraint should be no more than two inches away from the back of their heads, while most fail to check the restraints of their passengers as well as their own.

Next: Step 5 - Seatbelts - things you need to know.