Sitting correctly 50 years ago
12/05/2017
As is well known, the seating position in passenger cars has changed repeatedly over the many decades since the automobile was built. Not only has the position of the steering wheel and pedals shifted, but the necessary steering forces have also changed.
But even back then, specialists were already discussing how to sit correctly in a car. Automobil Revue addressed the topic in January 1969:
"Numerous drivers sit - no, stick, hang or even lie behind the steering wheel. Their imagination regarding the anatomically correct shape of the spine in the sitting position resembles the op- like color compositions in modern films - vide the unnatural positions of many driver's seats, which contradict every sense of health and practicality. The supposedly innocent victims do not realize that there must be something wrong with the seating position after a long journey, despite the pulling back pain."
The technology and the seats now allow for a sensible seating position, but the drivers apparently don't know what it should be, the AR journalists wrote at the time (apparently the positions in the middle).
Of course, the "correct" sitting position was also proclaimed:
"Arms almost stretched, as are the legs (with the pedals pressed down), the backrest not set too flat or too steep - this makes it comfortable to travel even over longer distances."
They also had clear ideas about the hand/arm position:
"Loose and comfortable - left hand in position nine, right in about two o'clock. Arms loose, slightly bent."
However, the examples showing incorrect posture were particularly amusing. And it was also funny that you can see the shadow of the photographer's tripod in many of the photos.
