Q:
What instantly turns 60 pounds into 2,700 pounds?
A: A 30-mph crash.
Rockleigh,
N.J. July 2, 2001 Force = Mass x Acceleration.
While that may be an oversimplification, the fact is that the laws
of physics are unyielding. Imagine this: A 60 pound unbelted child
in the back seat of a car traveling at a mere 30 miles per hour
is involved in a sudden collision can weigh as much as a young elephant
about 2,700 pounds. That means the child can, during a frontal
accident, impact the windshield or the front seat occupant
with deadly force. Not a pretty physics lesson.
False: An unbelted
person in the rear seat is safe.
True: Its a human tragedy that is easy to prevent CLICK!
Some important
statistics.
Accidents will
happen, but they dont have to become tragedies. According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated
4,193 childrens lives were saved from 1975 to 1998 by the
use of safety belts and child restraints.
According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, 75 percent of all
crashes occur within 25 miles of home. And most of those take place
on roads with maximum speed limits of 40 mph or less.
In 1998, 1,765 children age 14 or younger were killed riding as
passengers in motor vehicle accidents. The Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety reports that motor vehicle crashes account for one
in three injury deaths among children. Further, it states that crash
injuries are the leading cause of death among 5-12-year olds.
Some important
thoughts.
Restraints
help people and cars move together. Imagine trying to keep your
balance in a standing room only train car as it lurches forward
suddenly or stops abruptly without something to brace yourself with
comments Christer Gustafsson, Senior Safety Engineer for Volvo Cars,
Sweden.
People are just full of reasons for not belting back seat
passengers states Christer. Schools just 3 minutes
away, were just going to the grocery store, or just over to
friends house. Were full of excuses. But in the
end, if we dont belt our children or for that matter any rear
seat occupant, were setting them up for injuries or death.
Sorry doesnt go very far then.
But a young
elephant?
Unless one studies physics, the numbers seem unreal. But they
are very real according to Christer. In the rapid deceleration
that occurs at the moment of impact, a childs crash
weight increases dramatically. For instance, at 30 miles per
hour, an unbelted 60-pound child will be hurled forward with a force
that multiplies the impact approximately 45 times above normal;
depending on the object collided with. At 42 miles per hour, those
numbers rise to 75 to 150 times normal. So, in effect, the crash
weight of a 60-pound child at 42 miles per hour can range from 4,500
to 9,000 pounds. Thats an astounding 2 - 4 tons, or about
the weight of an elephant. A crushing force indeed.
But weigh
theres more.
A cars
seat belt keeps doing its job of helping to retain the occupant
within the safety structure of the cabin after the initial impact
has occurred. Accidents might involve secondary impacts and rollovers.
It is the seat belts that help keep the rear seated occupants strapped
safely inside the vehicle until the energy of the accident has dissipated.
During a roll-over the effect is very much like clothes in
a washing machine during the spin cycle. There are huge forces that
can easily eject occupants who are not using a seat belt.
states Christer.
Volvo and
Rear Seat Safety Features.
Volvo pioneered the in-car use of three-point front seat belt system
in 1959. Rear-seat outboard three-point belts became standard Volvo
fare in 1967 (23 years before they were required by U.S. law). Since
1985, Volvo has installed rear center position three-point belts
in its 740/760 series and later 940/960 series. Today all Volvos
are equipped with three-point seat belts at all seating positions.
Even the V70 and Cross Country wagons when fitted with the optional
rear-facing third row seat also includes three-point belts.
Small children
who have outgrown their toddler seat should use a booster cushion
to help properly position the three-point seat belt. Volvo offers
the integrated child booster cushion for children 40-80 pounds who
need to be comfortable and properly restrained. There are two styles:
one that can be moved from car to car, the other is built into the
seat cushion. The cars rear seat bottom opens up, its lower
half then forming a booster seat cushion. This cushion is high enough
to correctly position the lap portion of the seat belt low across
the childs hips, together with the vehicles adjustable
center head restraint forms a comfortable and safe seat for the
child.
The most
important safety feature of all.
Im
often asked, Whats the most important safety feature
in your Volvos? states Christer. With great fun,
I say, The driver. After all, the driver makes the decision
to properly use safety devices we engineer into our cars. Using
seat belts is so easy, if more people understand the law of physics,
people would see the importance of using seat belts in both
front and rear seats. Parents should set the example by using their
seat belts and insisting the rear seat passengers do the same. Offer
your beloved children the same safety you do when you buckle-up.
Having everyone belted is a great gift of life and love.
So do your part
for car safety. Help protect that most precious cargo of all
buckle them up. No one wants an elephant in the back seat.
Contact:
Daniel Johnson
V2001-28
Volvo Cars of North America
800-970-0888
References:
http://www.saferoads.org/issues/fs-child.htm
http://www.saferoads.org/press/pr_child.htm
http://www.safekids.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item+314&folder_id=170
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/buckleup.htm
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/airbags/presbelt/america_seatbelt.html
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