Every year, car accidents claim the lives of thousands of Americans. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 36,560 fatalities from car accidents in the U.S. in 2018 alone. Considering the gravity of these numbers, it’s important to always bear in mind the safety of yourself and passengers when driving. While everyone is guilty of some bad habits like forgetting to buckle up or checking mirrors when changing lanes, some habits like putting your feet on the dashboard can be especially dangerous. Here are a few reasons why you should never prop your feet up on the dashboard when the vehicle is in motion.
Improper Airbag Deployment
When someone puts their feet on the dashboard, what they are effectively doing is turning the passenger side airbag into a potential hazard. Airbags are meant to deploy out without obstruction to keep the passenger secured to the seat during a collision. Resting the feet on the dashboard can spell out big problems in a wreck. When the airbag deploys, it could send the legs and knees of the passenger back toward the body, causing damage to the face or upper torso. Many times, broken bones are the result of not sitting in the seat correctly. In severe car accidents or rollover events, keeping one’s feet on the dash could prove to be fatal.
Undermines Pre-Engineered Safety Features
All cars are developed with specific safety features in mind. When a person puts their feet on the dash, they are sitting in the seat in a way the engineers never intended. With the body incorrectly positioned, the seatbelt may not work properly in a collision. In 2015, one Georgia woman was riding in the passenger seat with her feet on the dashboard when the vehicle got in a wreck. The injuries she sustained prevented her from walking for an entire month. It took her several years to recover.
It’s important for everyone to remain vigilant when driving or travelling in a vehicle. Safety on the road is everyone’s responsibility, so if you see someone sitting with their feet on the dash, take a moment to offer them a friendly reminder about the dangers. If everyone did their part to improve vehicle safety we could greatly reduce the number of severe auto injuries in America every year.
Passenger safety is one of our top priorities at Valley Automall, with thousands of our vehicle inventory featuring state of the art safety features. If you’re ready to buy a vehicle, visit Valley Automall or contact us at 702-570-2257 for details on our inventory.