naaz

Driving to work and back is an activity that most cannot avoid. Driving on roads today is filled with risk to self and other occupants. The risk is dormant and may sudden appear at any time from actions not necessarily carried out by the car driver.

The chaotic traffic in all towns and cities in India throw in a lot of challenges not faced by drivers in developed countries. Hence, it is necessary that driver’s in India, are more careful while driving a car, lest they become entangled in a legal case. They could also end up being victims of reckless driving by other roads users.

Considering these potential factors, it is imperative that the driver and passenger are fastened with seats belts. There is also the collapsible steering wheel, head restraints and emergency exit door which help protect the passenger in the event of an accident.

These are some of the basic safety features offered by every manufacturer in every car model available in India. They can be used by every car occupant in India.

We shall look into factors how each – seat belts, collapsible steering wheel and head restraints- offer protection to passengers.

Collapsible Steering : The steering wheel is a collection of various equipments, links and wheel which helps steer the vehicle in the desired direction by the driver. The steering wheel is the only interface between the car’s energy and the driver who sets it in motion. But imagine this wheel becoming a hazard in the event of a collision. The wheel could severely injure the driver’s torso often resulting in death. Thus car manufacturer devised the collapsible steering which absorbs the energy of the impact during frontal crashes. This kind of energy absorbing steering wheel first appeared in General Motors and was later adopted by Ford across all its muscle cars including Mustang. The Indian car manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have started installing diverse kinds of collapsible steering wheel. The collapsible steering column consists of steering wheel, steering shaft, an inner tube and column. A plastic wrapped perforated section joins the steering column in cab to the car machinery. In case of any accident, when the driver’s body comes in contact with the steering wheel, the plastic wrapped perforated section collapses. The impact of the collision is absorbed by the steering wheel rather than transferring it to the driver playing safe for the divers.

Head restraints: The head restraints or head support first appeared in Maruti cars. Head restraints are a vital for comfort of human body during accident and non-accident times. During a collision- the neck could jerk forward or backward at high speed. This could prove fatal in most circumstances. It could permanently damage neck and upper spinal chord. This is termed ‘whiplash injury’. During any kind of car accidents the most common injury is the neck injury. As known to every one, drivers body movement is coordinated with the motion of car. Whenever there is collision, the car seat accelerates the forward movement of trunk. An unsupported neck will lag behind and this difference in motion leads to bend or stretch of neck, resulting in injuries. Higher the force of collision, results higher force of neck movement. But when there is a head restraint it harmonizes with the seat motion supporting the neck. Active head restraints in Audi, a mechanical lever system in the seat back swings the headrests forward and reduce the space for movement, during a collision from the rear. During non- accident times, head restraints provide support to neck on long drivers. Before the headrests were introduced in cars sold in India, drivers’ often complained of neck and spinal chord pain leading to fatigue and injury. Headrests are great comfort while driving long distances. Right head restraint – To minimize whiplash injury, the headrest should be placed at the back of an occupant’s head, so that during the crash the head receives support. With a head restraint, the neck will be subjected to sudden movement (forward and backward) which can prove injurious.

Seat belts: Seat belts play a very vital role in safety of a car. Seat belts holds occupant to their seat during a collision. Without them, occupants would be thrown off their seats and sustain grievous to fatal injuries. It improves the chances of occupant survival by 50 percent. Danger without seat belt- When a car is in motion, the body of the occupant also moves at the same speed and in the same direction. However, if the vehicle were to abruptly halt (due to collision) the body of the occupant would still be in motion at the same speed and same direction. The power of the collision pooled with the speed of the car would toss the occupants off their seats. However, if the person is fastened to a seat with belts, the occupant would remain on seat, thereby minimizing damages to body. It is mandatory by law that occupants of front seats in car wear seat belts. Some luxury cars also provide rear seat belts.

Conclusion: Another important safety device is the airbag. But most car owners do not opt for this equipment citing high cost of installation. But records prove that airbags protect car occupants from injuries in frontal collisions.

A law is needed to bring in compliance on installation of airbag in all cars sold in India, as the country boasts one of the highest road deaths. Car passenger need to understand that safety is top on the priority list of what a car needs.

vikaskumar11233

Great post naaz and now a days most of the new cars having very good safety features in it like air bags, ABS system etc but the matter is that people are careless, drunk and driving so for then all these features will not work for them.