Potential dangers of letting children sit on car sunroofs

Car sunroofs bring many great benefits to the driver and his companions, but besides that, there is still a potential risk of traffic accidents. If the driver is subjective and takes it lightly, accidents are inevitable.

In today's cars, the sunroof is a very familiar utility to most users. It helps to take advantage of natural light, bringing a new, exciting feeling to passengers, especially in some MPV models. However, not many people know how to use the sunroof to be both safe and properly designed and functional.

Although there is no denying the conveniences that sunroofs bring, this tool still poses unpredictable accident risks.

Back in the 1930s, Nash Motor - an American-based car manufacturer - became the first in the world to equip a sunroof as a standard feature on some car models in 1937. By 1960, Ford began offering this feature as an option on the Thunderbird two-door sports car. To boost sales, Ford launched advertising campaigns in magazines and on television to promote the image of the elegant Thunderbird car with a highlight of the sunroof. Unfortunately, at that time, not many customers were interested in this tool and Ford only sold half of the cars they expected.

Cars designated for sunroofs were moved to a separate area of ​​the factory where workers installed the special parts of the sunroof and other parts of the hood. This increased production costs and slowed down the assembly line. Sales were not enough to cover the production and installation costs, so just one year after its introduction, Ford had to stop offering sunroofs. It was not until 1967 that Mercury - a car brand founded in 1939 by Mr. Edsel Ford - introduced the 1967 Cougar model, which could be controlled by the driver via a switch. Immediately, the car was sought after by many consumers, and that same year the 1967 Mercury Cougar was voted car of the year by the prestigious car magazine Motor Trend.

Nowadays, sunroofs are not only found in luxury sedans but are also equipped in popular car models with many different variations. There is no denying the conveniences that sunroofs bring such as taking advantage of natural light, bringing fresh air into the car and being a great sightseeing spot during trips to the highlands or the sea, an emergency exit, but besides that, sunroofs still have some disadvantages that most users often do not pay attention to.

Nowadays, sunroofs not only appear in luxury sedans but they are also equipped on popular car models with many different variations.

The most obvious is the rubber gasket on the car door. Because it is often exposed to rain and sunlight, this part gradually ages and loses its water-repelling effect. Many OTOFUN members have complained about this part after a period of using the sunroof. In addition, the sunroof is electrically controlled, so if the parts of the control system (gears, sliders) are damaged, the repair cost if damage occurs and replacement will also increase.

It is because of the natural air absorption function that some drivers have been subjective and reckless, allowing children to stick their heads, lean, or even sit on the sunroof while the car is moving. Unfortunately, this situation is not uncommon on the roads of big cities, especially on weekends and holidays. If an unexpected situation occurs, the driver brakes suddenly or is suddenly hit from behind, injury is certain to occur to the person standing in the sunroof.

These cases show that some drivers still do not know how to use cars to ensure safety for themselves and their family members. Children with their active nature need the attention and supervision of adults to always be safe in traffic situations on the road.

It is because of the natural air absorption function that some drivers have been subjective and reckless, allowing children to stick their heads, lean, or even sit on the sunroof while the car is moving.

In fact, several car manufacturers around the world have had to recall their vehicles due to technical errors originating from the sunroof. In October 2016, Hyundai had to recall 62,811 Sonata cars across the US due to a defect in the dashboard. In 2015, the American car manufacturer Chevrolet had to recall 87,063 Malibu mid-size sedans (produced between 2013 and 2015) to fix a technical error in the sunroof.

Accordingly, even without any impact from the driver on the dashboard, the sunroof still automatically closes. In 2014, after receiving 95 reports of the sunroof glass suddenly shattering while the car was moving (there were 18 cases of customers being injured by glass fragments), the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had to conduct a comprehensive investigation of Sorento vehicles (2011 and 2013 versions) nationwide.

According to VNN