Sacred Journeys

There are 3 phases to a crash:

1. Vehicle crashes into object
   • Another vehicle or cyclist, a tree or building, an animal or human pedestrian, etc.
2. Occupants impact vehicle interior
   • Ideally we should only impact seatbelts and/or airbags.  Sometimes we may impact the dashboard, windows, front seatbacks, other vehicle occupants and/or loose projectiles.
3. Internal organs impact skeletal frame
   • Brain into skull, stomach into spine, lungs into rib cage, heart into sternum, etc.

• Physics 101: Blame Sir Isaac Newton for having to wear your seatbelt
• Defensive Driving Self Quiz

We use our seatbelts + child safety seats to keep ourselves inside the vehicle during a crash (reducing risk of death by 75%), to help ensure that we are conscious both during & after a crash, to spread crash forces over the strongest parts of our bodies, to prevent ourselves from becoming projectiles upon other passengers....  Properly restrained occupants are at 2-6 times the risk of death when other vehicle occupants are not belted!  Never start the vehicle until everyone is buckled.

Videos:   

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PREGNANT WOMEN

The shoulder portion of the seatbelt should be positioned over the collar bone. The lap portion should be placed under the abdomen as low as possible on the hips and across the upper thighs, NEVER above the abdomen.

Sit as far back from the airbag as possible, ideally with at least 10-12" between the body & airbag deployment zone.

Late in pregnancy, some women may find it impossible to position their abdomens away from the steering wheel. In these cases airbags do increase the risk of fetal problems, however risk exists even without the airbag due to close proximity to the steering wheel: when possible, ride in a passenger seat while someone else drives.

Everyday items become dangerous during a crash, causing life-threatening injuries that are otherwise easily prevented....

WHAT IS A PROJECTILE?  any unbuckled person or pet, loose groceries, school supplies & other such items: if you don't want an object being hand thrown at your family's or friends' faces then you certainly do not want it flying around with the force of a motor vehicle crash!

• If your hatchback, wagon, van or SUV does not have a manufacturer-installed cargo barrier, please ask your dealer about having one installed or consider  http://loadbarrier.com/index.htm
• Keep only soft toys in the car (such as cloth books & fabric puppets)
• Have window tint installed or use self-stick shades without suction cups
• Store pens, cellphones & other such items in the glove box
• Store bags in the trunk or under the vehicle seats
• Secure pets with appropriate vehicle restraint systems

Click this image to learn about  crash test dummies.

THINK IT WON'T HAPPEN TO YOU