Htqe.2025.46

https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2025.46 | 647-658 | PDF

Biomechanical Rationale of the Driver’s Working Posture Behind the Wheel of a Car

Oleh Rybak¹, Fedir Muzyka¹, Liudmyla Rybak¹, Bogdan Vynogradskyi¹, Olha Matviyas¹
¹Ivan Boberskij Lviv State University of Physical Culture, Ukraine

Abstract
An important element of active road safety is the correct working posture of the driver behind the wheel, which ensures a reduction in the number of driving errors, delays the onset of fatigue, and prevents driver injury in emergency situations.

The purpose of the study is the biomechanical justification of the individual safe working posture of the driver. To achieve the goal, video recording of the working posture behind the wheel of the world’s best rally drivers was used; electromyography on a simulator of the main muscles involved in steering the wheel; a pedagogical experiment involving qualified drivers who repeatedly passed the slalom course in different working postures behind the wheel of a production car; methods of mathematical statistics.

It was found that the winners of the World Rally Championship sit behind the wheel with the seatback tilted back minimally and with their arms bent at right angles at the elbows, holding the steering wheel. The results of a pedagogical experiment with drivers who repeatedly drove a slalom course in a production car in different working positions, as well as electromyography of the muscles involved in turning the steering wheel, confirmed that the described position behind the wheel of the world championship leaders provides the highest steering accuracy and speed, the ability to apply the greatest force to hold and turn the steering wheel in emergency situations, as well as reducing fatigue during a long trip.

Therefore, to reduce the number of road accidents, drivers can be recommended the working posture described above.

It is expected that the implementation of the developed practical recommendations will allow to increase the level of active road safety.

Keywords: car, driver, comfort, safety, fatigue, steering wheel, working posture, car rallies

In: Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2025. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Cilvēks, tehnoloģijas un izglītības kvalitāte, 2025. Rakstu krājums.  Ed. L. Daniela. Riga: University of Latvia, 2025. 698 p.
ISBN 978-9934-36-461-7 
https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2025