Can A Short Person Drive A Really Big Car Safely?

If you are in the market for a brand new car, you may be asking yourself if your stature limits the choice you have. Does height really determine which size car a person can drive or is it one size fits all?

Cars are manufactured for ‘average’ sized adults but can be adjusted for shorter people when necessary. In order to operate a vehicle safely, you need to be able to reach all the controls as well as have good observation out of the car. Also consider your proximity to safety features, like airbags.

Ultimately every car may be driven by any size driver but in some cases, more alterations and adjustments may need to be made. If you are going shopping for a new car, whether new or used, then read this guide before you go in order to verify some key design features.

Best And Worst Cars For Short People

According to a recent study done by consumerreports.org where a tester was 5 Feet 1 inch tall, these are the best and worst vehicles for someone of that height to drive.

10 Best	10 Worst
Subaru Forester	Mazda MX-5 Miata
BMW 7 Series	Jeep Wrangler
Lexus ES	Chevrolet Camaro
Volvo XC90	Nissan Z
Subaru Outback	Toyota Tacoma
BMW X5	Jeep Gladiator
Volkswagen Tiguan	Mitsubishi Mirage
Honda Odyssey	Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon
BMW X3	Jeep Renegade
Lexus RX	Nissan Titan

Source

Dimensions of popular large vehicles

Model	Legroom (min*)	Legroom (max)	Vehicle Height
Ford F-450 Super Duty	23.9	43.9	81.5
Ram 2500 HD Power Wagon	20.9	40.9	80.9
Ram 3500 Mega Cab	20.9	40.9	80.1
GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali	24.53	44.53	79.65
Ford SVT Raptor	23.9	43.9	78.5
Nissan Titan PRO-4X	21.8	41.8	76.9
Cadillac Escalade	24.5	44.5	76.7
Ford Expedition	23.9	43.9	76.6
GMC Yukon	24.5	44.5	76.5
Lincoln Navigator	23.9	43.9	76.4
Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road	22.5	42.5	76
Chevrolet Suburban	24.5	44.5	75.7
Jeep Wrangler	21.2	41.2	73.6
Toyota 4Runner	21.7	41.7	71.5
Chevrolet Traverse	21	41	70.7
Honda Pilot	20.9	40.9	70.6
Ford Explorer	22.9	42.9	70
Jeep Grand Cherokee	20.3	40.3	69.3
Toyota RAV4	21	41	68.6
Toyota Highlander	22	42	68.1
Subaru Forester	23.3	43.3	68.1
Lexus RX	24.1	44.1	67.7
Honda CR-V	21.3	41.3	66.5
Nissan Rogue	21.5	41.5	66.5
Hyundai Santa Fe	24.1	44.1	66.3
Jeep Cherokee	21.1	41.1	66.2
Ford Escape	22.4	42.4	66.1
Chevrolet Equinox	20.9	40.9	65.4
Mazda CX-5	21	41	65.3
Hyundai Tucson	21.5	41.5	64.8
Kia Sportage	21.5	41.5	64.8
Subaru Crosstrek	23.1	43.1	63.6

Can a short person drive a car?

There are absolutely no laws that limit the height of a driver. As long as you can safely operate a vehicle under the set regulations then your height has no impact on your ability to drive. Even those who have achondroplasia are not excluded from driving.

The general rules to operate a vehicle in the USA are as follows:

• The driver must have a valid license and have passed all tests, including a vision assessment
• The driver must obey all driving codes and regulations while operating the vehicle
• The vehicle must be kept road worthy
• Driver must have vehicle insurance or liability insurance depending on his or her state.

Source

If you are worried about being too short though, learn more about how to grow taller as a teenager and an adult by looking at my article here.

How do short people adjust car seats?

If you are below average height, which is 5 feet 4 inches (162.56 centimeters) for women and 5 feet 9 inches (175.26 centimeters) for men, then you will want to adjust the position of your car seat to be more comfortable and to drive safely in the vehicle.

For shorter drivers, raise your seat while moving it forward to reach the pedals. You should leave about 10 inches between you and the steering wheel which itself should be at about shoulder height allowing your arms to bend at about 120°. If the seat can’t move, alternative methods are available.

One of the most important considerations is the safe and easy operation of the gas and brake pedal (as well as clutch if driving a stick-shift). Your legs should be able to operate the pedals with a 20-30° bend. Anymore will be uncomfortable.

Also, be aware that car manufacturers recommend the 10-inch distance between your chest and the steering wheel to allow for the deployment of the airbag. If you are any closer, serious injury can be inflicted on the very thing trying to save your life.

Is it better to sit high or low in a car?

The height that you sit depends on whether you can see several key things.

In order to have the safest sitting position, you should be able to see the road, both in front and in all mirrors as well as your driving instruments without the need to bend your head or lean forward. This normally involves the steering wheel being at chest/shoulder height and a 20-30° leg bend.

If the car seat won’t move into the correct position, you need to add cushions to the seat and/or extend the driving pedals to enable you to reach them comfortably. I’ll go over some easy adjustments you can make with accessories a little later in this article.

What happens if you sit too close to the steering wheel?

Sitting too close to a steering wheel in a modern car can be extremely dangerous in an accident.

Airbags in steering wheels require approximately 10 inches of space in order to safely deploy. If they deploy into your chest rather than you moving into them contusions, blunt force trauma, and abrasions can occur. So, the airbag is likely to cause more injuries to a driver who is too close.

For those with dwarfism who cannot sit more than 10 inches away from the steering wheel, even with all other adjustments made, it is recommended that they turn off the airbag feature. This can normally be done by switching a switch or turning a knob located in the door or glove compartment. Look at your driver’s manual for more information.

Car accessories for short drivers

There are several accessories that can make it safer and more comfortable for a shorter person to drive a car. Many of these adjustments can be made at home, but when in doubt you can employ a mechanic to help you safely fit some accessories.

Legroom

Reaching the pedals is important, but so also is having enough space to sit comfortably. If you are driving a big car, you can extend the length of the pedals permanently or temporarily with a handy little device.

You can find this product on Amazon (link)

Seat height

If you aren’t able to see over the steering wheel even after adjusting it. you may need to buy a special cushion which boosts your sitting height.

You can find this product on Amazon (link)

Sun visor

One of the most annoying thing about driving as car which isn’t designed for your sitting height is the sun glare. If your visor doesn’t extend low enough, you can get a nifty little accessory to give you better coverage.

You can find this product on Amazon (link)

Wing Mirrors

Usually you will be able to adjust standard wing mirrors so that you can get good vision around your vehicle, but when you can’t getting special extension mirrors can help.

You can find this product on Amazon (link)

Dash Cam

For added liability safety you will want to get a dash cam fitted to your vehicle if it doesn’t come as standard. Other drivers will look for any excuse to blame someone else for their poor driving. You could be targeted due to your short stature, a video recording is hard proof to show that your height had no impact on their reckless driving.

You can find this product on Amazon (link)

Can a short person drive a Ford Mustang

I spoke to a number of Ford Mustang owners to get an idea of the dimensions of the vehicle, both classic and modern designs.

A shorter person can drive a classic or modern Ford Mustang but they will have to adjust the seating position and sometimes use accessories to make it safe. The latest model of Mustang have 44.5 inches of legroom while the classic 1965 model had a maximum of 42.5 inches

As with all vehicles, adjustments and modifications can be made so that any height driver can safely drive it. A classic Mustang may be easier to modify simply because they were built for a slightly smaller adult driver.

Learning to drive as a short person.

If you are a shorter person who will require special equipment to drive a car, pedal extenders, for example, you can still learn to drive. There is a law that says driving schools have to buy the necessary accessories to teach you to drive in a safe way without charging you more than another student.

Although you will need to buy your own pedal extenders for practice or use on your own vehicle, you will be able to enlist the tuition of a professional if you need it.