booster seat/cushion fir short driver

This is interesting as I have a friend who is a smidge under 5ft. Her driving is shocking and her DH likes her (he buys it - she barely knows the make and model!) to have a big car, to withstand any bumps and cope with the country lanes where they live - so she now has a brand new hybrid/electric Discovery. Obviously, she has the seat as far forward as it will go, then a pair of old sofa squabs on it and a couple of cushion behind her back.
How the Hell she hasn’t had or caused an accident remains a mystery, as she’s out and about every day. Any residents around the Sedgefield area, be aware, very aware!

Does your car seat not go up and down.

Most of them have for years

My cars drivers seat is as high as it can go. Most are adjustable now.

It’s as high as it will go… but not high enough.

You do know that you do not have to be able to see the bonnet, nor should you be looking at it, except for when doing very low speed manoeuvres.

Sort of true, Martin as dropped bonnets aid the aerodynamics, but everyone needs to be aware where the front and back bumpers are, otherwise there are going to be problems parking and manoevering. I suppose most cars have parking sensors these days, although mine are over sensitive.
My friend’s (see above) husband has put an old tyre on the garage wall to prevent her hitting it!

silverlining48 why don’t you visit your local Halfords (or similar) they should be able to advise you.

They have always fitted our families child/baby seats.

I’ve just looked on Amazon are there are adult booster cushions for cars. There are square pads to put in armchairs that might possibly be suitable and inflatable ones too.

Lots of different style booster cushions for sale on Ebay. Here are the search results.
www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=driving+cushion&_sacat=0

There is a discussion on Mumsnet about this here:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/816848-I-am-too-short-to-drive-safely-Any-advice-Seriously

How short are you?

Sorry. I see you told us - 5'

I was amazed to discover, after I’d been driving for several years, that there are people who can see the end of their bonnet. I’ve never been able to, and I don’t have parking sensors or cameras, but I’ve never (don’t this be famous last words!) hit or scraped anything.

It takes me a little longer to manoeuvre out of very tight places, I think, compared to those who can see the end of the car, but it’s never worried me.

Yes thanks I have seen the ones on eBay but most are for wheelchairs, back problems etc so will be too soft. Halfords only have those, which aren’t suitable.
I just wondered if anyone actually had one which they would recommend.
I have driven for 50 years without incident but if it’s sunny the visors don’t work fir me and anyway I would quite like to be able to see at least some of the front of the car.
I shall keep looking.

silverlining48

Yes thanks I have seen the ones on eBay but most are for wheelchairs, back problems etc so will be too soft. Halfords only have those, which aren’t suitable.
I just wondered if anyone actually had one which they would recommend.
I have driven for 50 years without incident but if it’s sunny the visors don’t work fir me and anyway I would quite like to be able to see at least some of the front of the car.
I shall keep looking.

You can buy a gadget that fits onto your sun visor which extends it downwards, which might help with sun in your eyes.

Good idea GG, thanks.

Im 5ft 2in and I brought a booster cushion but didnt use it as you have to adjust mirrors and adjust your driving to get used to the difference if you know what I mean. I didnt use it in the end.

When we change our car, number one requirement is I can reach the pedals easily.
Then that I can see out easily.
Then a large boot!

We buy cars carefully because of my height[I am short, DH is normal height so not the tallest person ever[.

I consider that sun visors are never designed with short women in mind.

Halford do adult car booster seats. Type it in to Google. Amazon have them too 😀

I have looked in halfords and In Amazon too but most are fir children/ people with bad backs and other medical problems which means they will be memory foam-soft I am looking for something reasonably firm and unsquashable. Also preferably a recommendation from someone before buying as I generally don’t buy online.
I always prefer to see and feel the goods but a recommendation would help my decision. Pear tree what make was your cushion?

fancythat

I consider that sun visors are never designed with short women in mind.

I don't think cars were designed with women drivers in mind, were they?

Certainly not those who are. 5’1” eyes of brown anyway

Caroline Criado-Perez covers the data gaps in car design in Invisible Women^. She covers both car design and car safety, the data for which are based on adult male physiognomy.

Besides the annoyances it causes for women (and short men, but predominantly women) the safety consequences are appalling. For example, when a woman driver is involved in a car crash, she is 47% more likely to be seriously injured, and 71% more likely to be moderately injured, even when researchers control for factors such as height, weight, seatbelt usage, and crash intensity. She is also 17% more likely to die.

Silverlining we too are looking for a booster seat for our car.
Both DH and I feel too low down when driving. We have the seat at its highest level but still find it more comfortable to be higher up. Also we have a ‘heads up’ display which is easier to see when higher up. We are looking at one from Amazon but haven’t purchased it yet. So no, you are not the only short one.