Posture tips from Ford's 'Dr. Derriere'

The front seats in the 2010 Taurus SHO have a slow massage feature to help you avoid fatigue on long trips. (Ford)

Gas prices are lower and people are driving long distances. That brings us to seat comfort and the "Dr. of Derrieres," Ford seating comfort engineer Mike Kolich.

The good doctor, the man behind Ford’s multi-contour seat with Active Motion massage features (which will debut on the 2010 Taurus SHO), offers seven tips for your seating comfort, the most important of which are in making adjustments before starting out.

1. Press your foot firmly against the floorboard behind the brake pedal. Adjust the seat so your knee is slightly bent.

2. If you have an automatic transmission, your left foot should rest comfortably on the "dead pedal."

3. If you have a manual transmission, you should be able to fully depress the clutch without pointing your toes and minimal (if any) hip rotation. Your left leg should have a slight bend when the clutch is fully depressed.

4. The small of your back should be pressed firmly to the seatback.

5. If there is a height adjustment, place the seat at a comfortable height for vision and reach.

6. For most people, it’s best to recline the seatback a bit. This reduces fatigue. But how far back? If you extend your arms over the steering wheel, your wrists should rest atop the wheel with your elbows slightly bent. (Note: This isn’t a recommended driving position. Most safety experts recommend hands at 9 and 3 p.m., or 9:30 and 2:30 p.m.). You should be able to turn the wheel 180 degrees (half a turn) without having a hand fall off the wheel.

7. Finally. Click that seatbelt, making sure it crosses your hips.

8. Oh yes, that contour seat? We can attest: it IS comfortable.