Van drivers not sitting pretty

More than 70% of van drivers have missed work because of back pain, according to new research, which also found that not adjusting their seats correctly was a key contributing factor.

The study conducted by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles estimated that van drivers’ time off for back pain cost the UK economy about £21bn per year.

On average, drivers with ‘Builder’s Back’ take three weeks off work, costing their companies about £500 a day per van.

Poor seat adjustment could be to blame for triggering back issues, especially as many drivers spend up to seven hours a day in their vans. During a day’s testing spent at Cordwallis Van Centre, Heathrow, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and a chiropractor from the BCA discovered that while half of van drivers say that they adjust their seat to the correct position, two-thirds are still sitting incorrectly or missing crucial steps.

Although most drivers adjusted their seats before driving, many committed common mistakes of positioning the seat too close to the steering wheel and angling the seat too far back.

Prab Chandhok, chiropractor and member of, British Chiropractic Association, said, ‘Many people now point to driving as a trigger for their back or neck pain, so it’s really important that your van is set up properly for your needs, to help ease the strain that driving – especially for long periods of time – can have on your back and neck.

‘The key thing to remember is that there is no single seat that is perfect for everyone, so it’s practical to test the seat out fully before you buy a new vehicle. The more adjustable it is the better.’

Seven tips for adjusting your seat:

Height: Your thighs should be as parallel to the floor as your seat will allow, and where possible try to get your hips higher than your knees. You should also adjust the thigh support if you have one to ensure you have the maximum surface of your thighs touching the seat.

Pedals: You should be able to push the pedals to the floor with a bend in your knees.

110°: Bring your seat all the way up so it’s straight and then take it back until you are comfortable whilst maintaining a 110 degree angle between your back and thighs.

Lumbar Support: The lumbar support should be adjusted so you can feel it support the hollow in your back but so it’s not causing your spine to arch more than is normal for you.

Head Restraint: The height and angle of your head restraint should be adjusted so you can feel the centre of the support touch the middle of the back of your head, although it does not need to be touching at all times

Steering Wheel: Once in correct seating position, bring your arm up in front of you and position the centre of the steering wheel to be in line with the fold of your wrist.

Rear Mirror: Lift up your chest by five degrees and then adjust your mirrors to help stay in an upright position on long drives.