Sitting very close to the steering wheel increases your risk of hitting it in a crash, even if you're using a lap and shoulder belt, and it doesn't allow sufficient space for the air bag. So it's important to position yourself away from the wheel. Choose a vehicle that allows you to comfortably reach the pedals without being close to the wheel. Shorter people who cannot reach pedals without getting too close might consider vehicles equipped with a telescoping adjustment to move the steering wheel away from your chest. And remember that sitting very close to an air bag increases injury risk from the bag itself. This is another reason to position yourself away from the steering wheel.
| Fig. 1: Typical components of a supplemental restraint
system (SRS) air bag
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| Fig. 2: High mounted passenger air bags are designed
to provide head and upper torso restraint in frontal impacts
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| Fig. 3: Low mounted passenger air bags are designed
to give lower torso protection in frontal impact situations
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| Fig. 4: Driver is protected from frontal impacts using
a steering wheel mounted air bag.
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