It might sound a bit odd, but did you know that not sitting correctly in a car could put your life at risk?
We all know we should buckle up when we get into a vehicle, right? Not many people realise, though, that how and where you sit can also have an impact on your safety in the event of an accident. The team from MotorHappy (a supplier of motor management and car insurance solutions) share some of the riskiest places and ways to sit in a car:
FEET ON DASHBOARD
Sitting in the front passenger seat with your feet on the dashboard changes the way the seat belt rests on your body. If you’re in an accident, your upper body could flip over the belt, causing injury to your abdomen and back. If the front airbags are deployed, your knees would be pushed into your face.
PASSENGER SEAT RECLINED
As with your feet on the dashboard, when you recline the passenger seat, the seat belt no longer fits the way it is meant to. Instead of fitting over the chest and lap, it moves to your neck and abdomen, and in an accident, this could damage your neck and internal organs.
SEAT BELT UNDER YOUR ARM
The seat belt is designed to fit your body in a certain way. When it’s over your shoulder, it crosses over your collarbone, which is strong. When you wear the seat belt under your arm, it crosses your ribs, which are weaker than your collarbone. Additionally, when the seat belt is under your arm and you’re involved in an accident, it is unable to stop your torso from propelling forward and colliding with the airbag that’s deploying at 320km/h.
THIRD ROW SEATS
Third row seats are not usually as stable as middle and front row seats. They are usually placed quite close to the rear of the vehicle, which means passengers in the third row are more likely to be injured in a rear-end collision.
KIDS AND DOGS ON LAPS
Riding as a front seat passenger with your child or dog on your lap is dangerous because of the speed at which your airbag inflates. Your child or pet could be seriously injured (if not killed) and the force at which they slam into your abdomen could cause serious internal injuries too.
WHERE SHOULD YOU SIT?
The safest spot for adult passengers is usually the least comfortable spot: the middle of the back seat. Adults in this seat are usually the furthest from the point of impact and they are insulated by the other passengers. However, this spot is only the safest if the car is equipped with a secure seat belt for this seat.
Details: MotorHappy provides honest advice, smart rewards and the best products in the Motorverse. From buying to selling your car and everything in-between. Insure it. Maintain it. Protect it! www.motorhappy.co.za
