An NHS doctor has issued a warning against sitting in a specific position in a car that could lead to severe injury, as reported by Wales Online. Dr. Arthur Joustra highlighted five things he would “never do as a doctor,” with the first caution being against sitting in the passenger seat of a car with feet on the dashboard. He advised people to avoid this position, as in the event of a crash and airbag deployment, it could fold them in half dangerously.
The potential risks of this sitting posture were demonstrated by engineers and data scientists at the Road and Maritime Services Crashlab in Australia back in 2017. They conducted a crash simulation at 70km/h (43.5mph), showing the impact of airbag deployment pushing a dummy’s feet into their face, causing significant internal injuries.
In a separate incident highlighted by Dr. Joustra, a chilling X-ray image from 2020 circulated by a police officer showed the catastrophic injuries sustained by a front seat passenger who had their feet on the dashboard during a collision. The X-ray depicted a dislocated pelvis and fractured legs, emphasizing the dangers of such a sitting position in a car.
Dr. Joustra also advised against other risky behaviours, including not wearing safety glasses when using power tools, using trampolines improperly, consuming undercooked meat due to the risk of salmonella, and skiing beyond one’s competency. These warnings serve as crucial reminders to prioritise safety and avoid actions that could result in serious harm or injury.