Mar 23 Ballito Umhl

Sitting
safely
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 inbetween.
Insure it. Maintain it. Protect it!
www.motorhappy.co.za
44 Get It • Ballito • Umdloti • Umhlanga March 2023