Why not to put feet on the car dashboard?

During trips, either long or short drives, being in the car as a passenger can make you a bit restless. Most of the time, front seat passengers put their feet on the dashboard for comfort, not knowing that it is extremely dangerous. Philkotse.com will explain why putting your feet up on the dashboard and why you should avoid doing it.

1. Why popping your feet up on the dashboard is extremely dangerous?

No one really knows that by simply putting your feet on the dashboard for a simple stretch can leave serious injury and can change a person's life forever. one great example is the story of a girl named Bethany.

What's left of the 2002 Sunfire Bethany and her boyfriend was riding

She made a grave mistake while on the car, driving back home from the house of her aunt. Bethany decided to stretch her feet out on her mother’s car, a 2002 Sunfire which is driven by her boyfriend. She put her feet up on the dashboard then pushed the seat back. She fell asleep and unfortunately, they were involved in a car crash. 

That simple action of putting her feet in the dashboard and the car crash changed her life forever. She acquired different injuries that permanently affect her abilities to perform a different task - even the simpler ones. 

>>> Read more: 3 driving habits that can cause cancer and other health problems.

2. What makes it dangerous?

Bethany’s injuries worsen because her feet were on the dashboard. When the airbags deployed and inflated, it pushed her knees into her face. Airbags deploy at the speed of 100 to 220 miles per hour.

That means it a little bit faster than jumbo jet’s speed at takeoff or faster than most vehicles can travel during a Formula one race. It can literally send your knees through your eye sockets, just like what happened to Bethany. It can also result in several other head and feet injury and brain complications.

The accident can also result in several other head and feet injury and brain complications

In addition, the seatbelt can also contribute to the injury a person can get. With the seatbelts intact and the passenger’s feet up on the dashboard, it causes the passenger to slip down underneath the seatbelt, this means that the internal organs have to bear the burden of the impact.

Airbags deploy at the speed of 100 to 220 miles per hour

>>> Also check: 3 simple tips for Filipino motorists to adopt a proper driving posture.

3. Possible injuries

As mentioned above, lots of injuries can happen if you put your feet on the dashboard and an accident happens. Here are some of the possible injuries:

• Ruptured bowel
• Torn aorta
• Damages to the spinal cord
• Broken bones
• Broken eye socket
• Dislocated jaw
• Vision impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Brain hemorrhage
• Death (in extreme cases)

Lots of injuries can happen if you put your feet on the dashboard and an accident happens

5. Passenger safety tips

We all know that sometimes long drives can really be very boring and restless which is why most of us resort to doing things that can somehow be relaxing.

However, we should always keep in mind that as a passenger, we also have some safety guidelines to follow and here are some of the basic passenger safety tips that every passenger (both front seat and back seat passenger) should always remember and follow:

• Wearing seatbelt all the time in every car trip
• Use all seatbelts - lap and shoulder seatbelts
• Don't ever share seatbelts
• Children are recommended to be seated in the backseat
• Sit properly
• Do not tolerate drunk/drugged driving
• Do not tolerate speeding
• Keep all interactions with the driver considerate and not distractive.
• DO NOT PUT YOUR FEET IN THE DASHBOARD

We all know that sometimes long drives can really be very boring but you must not put feet on the dashboard

Read more helpful driving tips and advice better driving experience on the road.