So what holiday departures accelerate with the weekend of July 14, this is a position you can still find on many vehicles. The so-called “relaxation” position for the front passenger, who places his feet on the dashboard to stretch his legs. Unfortunately, a scare and the activation of the airbag can turn the calm scenario into a real nightmare.
“Rollers in the face at 300 km/h”
This is demonstrated by an X-ray image released on Twitter on July 10, with the damage caused to the victim of an accident who was in precisely this position. “Airbags deploy across a dashboard at 200 miles per hour (over 300 km/h). Imagine your knees in the face at 200 miles per hour”, says this police officer passionate about road safety.
The German group Dekra recently carried out a crash test study on the consequences of the position of the seat on the damage sustained in the event of an accident. The danger is proven with regard to this “relaxed” position:
“If the airbag is triggered, the knees will be thrown towards the head and the lap belt will not have a grip on the pelvic bone, meaning it can be pushed deep into the abdominal cavity. It is imperative that the feet remain on the ground.” , sums up Andreas Schäuble, accidentology researcher and biomechanics expert at Dekra.
How to place your seat?
So what is the most recommended position in the front passenger seat? Dekra Expert Response:
“The seat should be moved back to leave a distance of approximately 3 finger widths (ie 6.6675 cm) between the knees and the glove box.”
A more general recommendation, if seat height adjustment is offered: “Keep your eyes halfway up the windshield. The seat should be as upright as possible so that your shoulders are in contact with the backrest. Finally, There should be as little space as possible. possible between the headrest and the head. Ideally, the top of the headrest should be approximately level with the top of your head.”
Very specific advice, but which will still allow some to relax, travel safely on the way to vacation.
Source: BFM TV
