Winter Driving and Auto Safety Facts

By John F. Kibby, DC

You're driving along, minding your own business, when the brake lights of the car in front of you gleam red, indicating an abrupt slowdown in the flow of traffic. Responding quickly with the brake pedal, you've got enough distance between your car and the one in front of you to avoid a collision. But the tailgater behind you isn't as lucky, and his front bumper comes hurtling into the rear of your vehicle.

The jolt from such an impact can cause your head to jerk back and forth like a bobble-head doll, leaving you stuck with more than just a damaged vehicle. Even minor accidents can result in whiplash, a serious condition affecting the ligaments and muscles of the neck and shoulders, as well as mid and low back pain.

This type of accident can cause chronic pain and discomfort, but following some simple steps can reduce your risk of injury.

Seat Belts

Always wear your seat belt and shoulder harness when riding in a vehicle. Many fatal crashes occur at relatively low speeds and you double the chances you will survive a crash by wearing your belts.

Many people mistakenly believe that they can brace against the steering wheel and avoid serious injury if they are not wearing their seat belt. However, even at only 25 mph, an unrestrained driver can strike the steering wheel with the same force as falling from a third floor balcony.

Head Restraints

Head restraints are designed to restrict rearward head movement during a rear-impact collision and reduce the chance of neck and shoulder injury. If the head restraint is not properly positioned, injury can be worsened.

To ensure that your head restraint is positioned properly, you should do the following

1. Your head restraint should be no more than 2-3 inches away from your head.

2. Make sure that the top of your head restraint is no lower than the top of your head.

Airbags

Airbags are a supplemental restraint system (SRS) They are designed to work in conjunction with your seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, not instead of them. By themselves, airbags provide less protection. Used together, they offer the most protection.

Choose A Safe Vehicle

Check the crash test results of your vehicle. NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) awards stars based on crash test performance from crashing into a rigid barrier at 35 mph (http //www.nhtsa.gov/).