Keep yourself safe by buckling up with the best ways to sit in a car!
As carmakers become increasingly safety-conscious in their design and safety features, we can see how people may think they’re protected enough in their vehicles. What we forget is this: even if a car has a super strong exterior, a malleable crunch zone, and you’re always buckled up, there are still ways to sit in a car that will leave you vulnerable if an accident happens.
We always want our Oneplan Family to stay safe on the roads (whether you have a policy with us or you’re just an interested reader, your safety matters to us). That’s why today we’re going to be discussing dangerous ways to sit in your car and how you can avoid them.
Read about 6 safe driving practices that just might save your life.
The correct way to wear your seatbelt
When it comes to the safest ways to sit in a car, a lot of it has to do with the position of your seatbelt. Seatbelts save lives. The correct way to wear your seatbelt is by fastening the straps over your lower hips and across your chest and collarbone. Pull the straps until they are firmly against your body but not too tight.
This may be uncomfortable for younger kids, which is why they need to use booster seats if they have outgrown their car seats.
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Feet up on the dashboard
Most people are guilty of this. We always see it in the movies as the two main characters embark on a romantic long-distance road trip. The passenger has their feet up on the dashboard, tapping along to whichever coming-of-age soundtrack is blaring.
All very nice. Until there is a collision. Airbags blow up at an average speed of 320km/h. There’s a reason we advise never to put infants or developing children in the front seat or in a seat with airbags. They can cause serious damage. So now imagine your feet are up on the dash and they are met with an inflating device going at such a high speed – the outcome doesn’t sound very good.
Sitting with your feet up also changes the position of your seatbelt. You always want your seatbelt to be secure across your chest and low on your hips. Sitting with your feet up could cause you to slip over the belt in an accident, sending your body through the front of the car.
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Wearing your seatbelt under your arm
Again, this has to do with correct seatbelt positioning. The reason that your seatbelt is supposed to be crossed over your chest is that the collarbone is strong and is most likely to withstand the force of the seatbelt locking during a collision. If the seatbelt is under your arm, the seatbelt is sitting across your ribs, which are far weaker.
If the seatbelt is under your arm and you have an accident, the top half of your body will probably be hurtled forward.
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Passenger seat reclined
It can be very tempting on a long trip to push your seat back and have a nice little snooze. This is going to cause your seatbelt to cover your abdomen and neck. This can be especially dangerous in an accident if the seatbelt tightens too tight across your neck. The way the seatbelt is positioned when the seat is reclined can also cause damage to the internal organs.
Third-row seats
Some cars like combis will have three rows of seats. These seats are often a little less secure than the first two rows in the car. They have smaller leg space and are positioned very close to the rear of the vehicle.
If the car is hit from behind, this is the most vulnerable place to sit in a car.
Riding with anybody sitting on laps
Have you ever seen somebody driving by with their child in the front seat on their lap? Does it make your blood boil? Ours too.
Related: Child Car Safety: 6 Expert Tips
Overcrowding your vehicle is a traffic violation. Every passenger needs to have an allocated seat and a working seatbelt. Sitting with anybody on your lap, even if it isn’t in the front seat, is very dangerous.
It is especially dangerous to have infants or pets on your lap while you are in the front. Remember the airbag that inflates at 320km/h? That impact will put your baby or pet in direct line of the impact of the airbag, resulting in serious injury or in many cases, death.
Whenever you sit in a car, whether you’re going on a trip to the shops or an exciting holiday road trip, keep these safety tips in mind and choose the safest ways to sit in your car.
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