you and your vehicle 2 in this chapter • Adjust for safety • Hand controls • Foot pedals  • Control panel • Pre‑trip check • Periodic check • Driving and the  environment crash fact Each year on average, just  over 70 per cent of people  injured in collisions report  a soft tissue injury such as  whiplash. Many also had  other injuries. A study of  seven Canadian provinces  found that 53 per cent of  the drivers observed have  head restraints that are so  inadequately adjusted that  they would not protect the  occupant from injury in a  rear-end collision.  Source: MSN: Autos:  Head Restraints: Saving  Your Neck In  chapter 1, you in the driver’s seat , you learned how  important it is to make good choices when driving. It’s also  important to learn how your vehicle operates. Mastering the  controls is one of the first steps to safe driving. Adjust for safety To drive safely, you need to be able to comfortably reach your  vehicle’s controls and see clearly around you. Before you start  the engine, always adjust your seat, head restraint and mirrors.  Never adjust your seat or the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving. Seat Your seat should be upright and in a position where you can:  • push the small of your back into the seat • sit upright, never with a reclined seat • with your right foot, reach the floor behind the brake pedal  and still have a slight bend in your leg • turn the steering wheel and keep your arms slightly bent  • reach all the controls • keep your left foot comfortably on the space to the left of the  brake pedal or clutch pedal. You should also be at least 25 cm (10 in) away from the driver’s  airbag. Head restraints Head restraints can help prevent soft tissue injuries such  as whiplash. Whiplash is an injury to the neck, head and or  shoulders after being subjected to a snapping motion. Adjust  your head restraint so the top is at least level with the top of  your head. Position your head restraint as close to the back of  your head as possible. It may be necessary to adjust your seat  back position to do this. Closer head restraints can be twice as  effective in preventing injuries than if they’re set too far back. Make sure your  head restraint is  adjusted to the  height that is right  for you. If you are in a  crash and your  head restraint  is not properly  adjusted, this can  be the result. 13