Why You Should Never Place Your Feet on The Dashboard

Although there isn’t any specific Canadian law against having your passengers placing their feet on the dashboard of your vehicle, doing so is very dangerous. Having a passenger place their feet on the dashboard can lead to severe, life-altering injuries in a vehicle collision due to the powerful deployment of the airbags. In the event of a collision, the airbag, which can deploy at a force of over 300 km/h, can thrust the passenger’s legs and feet back with so much force that it can cause facial fractures, brain injuries, broken bones, and other destruction to someone’s body.

It seems to be common:

We’ve all seen it and perhaps have done it at some point. you hop into the passenger seat to get ready for a road trip adventure, and without much thought, you sit back and place your feet up on the dashboard. It may seem harmless but for many people, it’s a way to get comfortable for the ride. However, have you ever considered the possible dangers of this apparently harmless action?

Airbag Deployment:

One of the most critical reasons anyone should avoid putting their feet on the dashboard is the possible risk posed by airbag deployment. Airbags are designed to deploy with great force, up to 320 km/h in the event of a collision. Having your feet on the dashboard can increase the chance of bodily injury if the airbag is activated. It can forcefully impact your legs and feet, causing fractures, dislocations, and other brutal injuries. The airbag is designed to provide safety for the occupants, but improper positioning can quickly turn it into a danger.

Although you might think that as a passenger you can quickly remove your feet before the airbags deploy, you can’t. There isn’t enough time. Vehicle collisions can happen so quickly that as a passenger, you would not even think about putting your feet on the floor.

When properly seated, airbags are designed to protect occupants in the event of a vehicle collision. When someone’s feet are on the dashboard, the airbag’s rapid inflation can aggressively push their legs back into the face and body.

Severe Injuries:

During the event of a collision where the airbags are deployed, passengers can experience the following types of injuries:

Hip Fractures – The forces put onto the hips when an airbag deploys can fracture the femur (thigh bone) and other bones in the pelvis. Not only are hip fractures serious and painful injuries that can require a lot of treatment and a prolonged recovery, but they can also present risks for soft tissue damage, nerve damage, and infections as well.
Possible other Leg and Back Injuries – Airbags can also cause possible other types of leg and back injuries, including fractures to burns, and from soft tissue damage to nerve damage. Back injuries could lead to organ-related issues. When injured passengers begin to walk again, they could still face challenges in all aspects of their day-to-day lives.
Paralysis – The forces that occur during an airbag’s deployment can also cause spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis just by having your feet on the dashboard. This can either be full or partial paralysis depending on where the passenger’s injury occurs.
Head and Upper-Body Injuries – Another risk associated with airbag deployment while riding with feet on the dashboard is the risk of upper-body and head injuries. When the airbag in the dashboard deploys during a collision, this can push the passenger’s legs backward into the passenger’s upper body or face. These injuries can range from collapsed lungs to concussions, causing a long and difficult recovery.

Even in a minor crash, your legs can become severely injured or possibly dislocated. Any severe injury can result not only physical trauma, but also emotional trauma and psychological anxiety that can last many years.

Reduced Seatbelt Effectiveness:

The goal of the airbag is to stop the forward motion of the occupant in the even of a collision as quickly as possible to reduce serious injuries. Airbags are designed to work along with the seatbelt. placing your feet on the dashboard compromises the effectiveness of the seat belt. Seatbelts become less effective at restraining a passenger with their feet on the dashboard, which increases the risk of injury from the airbag or even a possible ejection from the vehicle.

Risk to Others:

Your choices in the car don’t just affect you – they can impact your fellow passengers as well. If you’re riding with someone who has their feet on the dashboard, you could be at risk too. In the event of an accident, the force exerted by their legs could be transferred to you, potentially causing injuries.

Legal Repercussions:

While having your feet on the dashboard is not illegal, putting your feet on the dashboard can impact a passenger’s ability to receive any compensation in a lawsuit if they are injured in a vehicle collision. This would be because they could be considered partially responsible for their own injuries due to failing to take care for their own safety.

Recommendations:

As a safe driver, instruct your passengers to always sit properly with their feet on the floor, and their backs against the seat. This is to maximize the effectiveness of safety features like the seatbelts and airbags.

It can be easy to just shrug this off thinking that it might never happen to you or your passengers but think about it. Is losing the ability to walk or the possibility of having injuries worth putting your feet up on the dash? There really is no good reason to do it. You’ll be much safer in the event of any vehicle collision and besides, no one wants to see (or smell) your feet.

Take Responsibility:

After all of this, if your passenger still wants to place their feet on the dashboard during long car rides, let them know that since you’re driving, they must follow your rules. Pull over and stop until they put their feet back on the floor. That’s what safe drivers do.