Why shouldn't you put your feet on the car dashboard?
Many people still like to put their feet up on the dashboard when sitting in the front passenger seat; however, experts warn that this habit can cost you dearly.
The habit of putting your feet on the dashboard can also cause you to have extremely unfortunate accidents, as in the case of an American mother of three living in Georgia named Audra Tatum. While traveling by car with her husband, Audra kept the habit of putting her feet on the dashboard, despite her husband's advice not to do so.
While the car was traveling at a moderate speed under control, another car suddenly crashed into the side of their car, causing the airbag to deploy and twist Audra's legs backwards. Her femur, ankle, nose and shoulder were also severely damaged.
After performing emergency surgery, doctors said that if Audra Tatum had sat normally with her feet on the floor of the car, she would have been fine, if the airbag had deployed. However, because she put her feet up on the dashboard for comfort, she suffered pain that lasted for 2 years afterward.
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| Audra Tatum receives first aid in the car (left) and her right leg is in a cast upon arriving at the hospital later (right). |
“The accident has seriously affected my work and life. Every minute that passes, every time I press on my leg, I still feel the pain clearly. You should never sit with your legs crossed like that,” Audra Tatum regretfully shared.
Through her accident, Audra wants to warn that this bad habit can put you in unforeseen dangerous situations.
Experts have also warned many times that you should never put your feet on the dashboard when sitting in the passenger seat because in an accident, the airbag will deploy and push your feet up towards your head, hitting your shoulder or even your eyes, which is extremely dangerous.
In another case, Grainne Kealy of Ireland was resting her feet on the dashboard of her boyfriend’s Jeep when the icy road caused her knee to hit her face at nearly 200 km/h. As a result, she had to have her forehead amputated and undergo multiple reconstructive surgeries.
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| Grainne Kealy before and after the accident |
Years later, she was healthy enough to undergo a forehead transplant. However, the damage to her nervous system could not be repaired. She said she often forgot words while talking to people and often had headaches when surrounded by noise, causing her to lose concentration.
The reason you shouldn't put your feet on the dashboard is because that's where the airbag is installed, so in the event of a serious collision, the airbag will deploy very quickly, you won't have time to pull your feet out. According to a spokesman for the Chattanooga Fire Department (USA), airbags deploy at speeds of 160-320 km/h. If you put your feet on the dashboard and an accident happens, the airbag can hit your knees through your eye sockets."
