These common, everyday behaviors are dangerous but avoidable
You might think you’re a safe driver (and you probably are!) but there are a few things you could be doing that raise your risk of injury in an accident—and they’re five things that are really easy to avoid.
We ride in cars every day.
Is this dangerous? Well, that depends on how you view danger. It’s a risk, yes. But most of us assume certain risks because we know that they’re necessary and part of our daily lives. Yes, driving is inherently risky for the obvious reasons—like accidents with other cars.
However, did you know that there are some things we do in cars that make us more likely to be seriously injured in an accident… things we don’t need to do and that can easily be avoided?
Let’s take a look at five things that are surprisingly dangerous… but easily avoidable.
1. Claw clips
You know what they are… these things.
But wait—weren’t these popular in the 1980s?
Yes! You’re right, and you have a great memory. But they’re back. Regardless of what you think about them as a fashion accessory, you might not realize that they can be dangerous when worn in a car.
The benefit of the “claws” (sharp parts) is that they hold your hair securely. But if you’re in a car accident, they can also slash your scalp or be impaled into the back of your head. One California college student has been on social media to talk about a minor fender-bender that resulted in serious injuries because the clip forced her head into a forward position, rather than its being able to be flat against the headrest in the car. If the accident had been more severe, likely her injuries would have been, also.
Another young woman described a crash where the claw clip jammed into the back of her head until it lodged into her flesh. She advises other people with long hair to use elastic ties or flat clips for their hair while riding in cars.
2. Feet on the dashboard
Being in the car for many hours can leave a passenger restless. Sitting up straight in your seat with your feet on the floor can feel constricting after a while, and you might want a stretch.
If you begin to feel uncomfortable, have the driver pull over in a safe area for a rest stop. Take break, get out of the car, do a few stretches or walk around a little, and then continue on your journey.
Don’t change position by putting your legs or feet up on the dashboard. It might feel comfortable, but it’s dangerous. If you’re in a collision, you’d be more likely to experience serious orthopedic injuries, like broken bones, dislocations, or even amputations or losses of limbs.
Your car’s front airbag is designed to prevent injuries to the head and upper body, but they are dangerous when the passenger is sitting too close. If your legs are up, the airbag can actually push back or fold them into your back.
3. Pets in the front seat
You love your pet. We get it.
They are precious cargo, and sometimes you’re tempted to just hold the little fuzzy wuzzy on your lap in the front seat. Maybe they’re nervous in the car, or maybe you just like it.
But don’t.
A pet should never ride “loose” or without restraint in a vehicle, particularly in the front seat—even if you’re holding them on your lap. If you’re driving with your pet in the passenger seat with no human passenger, they could become very hurt in an accident. Most pets don’t meet the weight requirement to trigger the airbags to deploy upon impact. Therefore, the protections that are built in to a vehicle for human safety don’t protect the safety of your pet.
There’s also the possibility that even well-behaved pets can become a distraction; they could be spooked by something outside the vehicle and drop down to obstruct your pedals, they might crawl into your lap and block your vision or steering, or create a hazard in numerous other ways.
Look for a restraint or harness specifically designed for pets and travel with your beloved friends in the back seat.
4. Steering wheel decorations
Sounds silly, right? How could a little bling on your ride be dangerous?
An emergency physician in Florida detailed how rhinestones or jewels on the steering wheel can injure the driver in an accident. Once they come into contact with the airbag, they could become a projectile. If a rhinestone becomes loose from the steering wheel upon impact, it could act like shrapnel and injure the driver or a passenger. There’s a possibility it could become embedded in the skin or eyes, requiring surgical removal.
Really, any unsecured object in a vehicle could become a projectile. However, it’s not realistic to think that anyone is likely to have no loose objects in the car. Still, be mindful of what they are and if it’s really necessary to have them in the passenger compartment rather than the trunk.
5. Water bottles
Those crinkly plastic water bottles seem so harmless. Rather, they can make you lose your mind if your child is crinkling them incessantly in the back seat. But they don’t seem dangerous, per se.
They can be, though. As we’ve discussed, any projectile can be dangerous. But there’s an additional risk associated with plastic water bottles, whether full, empty, or partially full.
If you have a water bottle in the car, be sure it’s secured in a cup holder, in a bag, or in the trunk. If a water bottle slides free (or is sitting on the seat or between your legs), it can fall beneath the driver’s feet and become wedged under the pedals—making it impossible to brake effectively. There should never be any object under the seat near the gas or brake pedals, and the flexible quality of the plastic makes it easy for one of these bottles to cause a serious hazard.
We are so conditioned to wear our seatbelts, avoid using mobile devices while driving, follow general safe driving guidelines, and otherwise try our best to avoid dangerous situations, so these everyday hazards might not be top of mind. But since you’re already a safe driver, it’s best to be aware of these common hazards that are easily avoided.