3 Reasons You Should Never Put Your Feet on the Dashboard
Photo: Vova Krasilnikov via Pexels
When you’re sitting in the passenger’s seat, it can be so relaxing to lean back and put your feet up on the dashboard while the driver handles the road. However, as comfortable as having your feet on the dash may be, it’s an incredibly dangerous position to be in if the car gets into a wreck. The next time you or another passenger considers sitting in this position, keep in mind the following reasons not to do so.
A Reliable Family Hauler: Features of the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander
1. Airbag pressure
When airbags deploy, they do so using an immense amount of pressure. While airbags are meant to save lives in collisions, they actually can cause more harm than good when you’re not sitting properly. The force of their deployment may push your feet toward the windshield or the roof. It can even push them backward, leading to a broken leg, nose, or even pelvis.
2. Protection in a rollover
If you get into a rollover accident, the airbags on the passenger’s side are imperative to your safety. If you’re sitting with your legs elevated, you may prevent the chest and knee airbags from providing the proper protection and may accordingly receive more injuries to your lower body.
3. Seatbelt placement
Manufacturers specifically design seatbelts in a way that secures your body without harming any vital organs. However, when your feet are on the dashboard, the seatbelt likely won’t hit your body exactly where it’s supposed to. This can then damage your organs in a car crash.
Easy Handling on the Road: The S-AWC ECO Driving Mode of the Mitsubishi Outlander
Although sitting with your feet up on the dashboard may be comfortable, it’s not worth the risks. Keep your feet on the floor during the drive, and take more frequent stops if you need to stretch out your legs.
Amanda Drago lives in West Chester, Ohio with her wonderful family, which includes her adorable dog, Coco. Amanda recently graduated from Miami University with degrees in both marketing and creative writing. However, if she was ever forced to change career paths, she imagines that she would train dogs for movies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, and watching Netflix. She also has a special place in her heart for theatre and purchases tickets to as many shows as she can. See more articles by Amanda.