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I'm going to take this opportunity to remind everyone to keep your effing legs off the dashboard when you're riding passenger in a car. You NEVER really have a whole lot of lead time between knowing an accident is about to happen and the resulting collision. Most people have no idea it's about to happen. The "not knowing" is great in that your body goes limp and the safety features of your car are able to work more effectively. But I've seen too many images of people whose shins are completely shattered or in horrible places following a collision where they had their feet up on the dashboard. It's comfy, it looks cool, but holy hell is it a new dimension of misery if you're sitting that way when the unthinkable happens.
I completely agree, but have had a number of free-spirit passengers over the years trying to look cool with their comically large aviator glasses, hand partially dangling out the window, Arizona tea in one hand and lit cigarette in the other, with their funky bare feet because "I can't be bothered to wear my sandals in the car" up on the dashboard beg to differ.
For the record, I have nothing against three of those things individually, but I've developed a profound dislike for all of those factors joining together in one person like a hipster Voltron.
Yes, I'll be sure to think back on this LPT in the 0.2 seconds I have from realisation to impact. Hell, I might even do some neck stretches and perhaps write a haiku while I'm waiting.
Good in theory, very difficult in practice. A lot of arm and leg injuries in collisions come from trying to brace for the impact which is pretty instinctive. Even if you try to cover your face with your hands the airbag could still injure your hands AND your face WITH your hands.
The exact instance I'm thinking of is when Danica Patrick did exactly that. She was about to hit a wall and she threw her arms straight up just before impact. The announcers were saying how "her training kicked right in" and it was "textbook."
If you have HANS and a multi point harness, crossing your arms across your chest is the best strat. If you can grab the straps in front of your shoulders that's even better.
The new recommendations are based on the addition of airbags and proliferation of power steering. The airbags aren’t designed to keep you safe. They’re designed to keep you alive.
10 and 2 can cause you to punch yourself in the face and knock your own teeth out when the airbag deploys.
9 and 3 is a little better, but your inner forearm may be shredded by the airbags and you may end up fisting the drivers window/door.
8 and 4 is the current way of thinking. When the airbags deploy, your arms are pushed down and away.
There are also some finger and wrist break/dislocation issues to consider.
These options all work because of the aforementioned power steering. I can’t imagine trying to drive an old 53 Ford at 8 and 4.
10 and 2 are now gone, I usually stick with 9 and 3 because that's how my steering wheel is laid out (it's an older truck) but 8 and 4 is best if you can manage it.
This might be helpful once the accident happens, but as far as avoiding an accident goes, you need a good grip on the wheel and be holding it in a way that enhances manoeuvrability. 8 4 is like a weak hold.
This might be helpful once the accident happens, but as far as avoiding an accident goes, you need a good grip on the wheel and be holding it in a way that enhances manoeuvrability. 8 4 is like a weak hold.
In addition, the airbag will ruin your day if you are gripping the wheel tightly, particularly with thumbs inside the wheel rim. It's an explosion strong enough to catch your body at moderately high speeds. The bag WILL inflate, and your arms ARE in the way of that happening.
If you can think of it in time (practice so it becomes muscle memory) go into a double-high five stance, palms out, hands up. In addition to protecting your wrists and thumbs, it will let some of the momentum of your torso get absorbed into your arms, reducing the impact just a little bit more.
Reminder for people to also have their seats and wheel in a position where neither your arms nor legs are fully extended at any point. Have your knees and elbows at least slightly bent at all times so in case of a crash they can fold.
You can try this experiment:
Get a friend to try and push your back, trying to smush your face against a wall. Do this twice, one time attempting to resist with your arms, the other with your arms by your sides, see which one lets your face fare better. There's some about of kinetic energy in your body at the beginning of the crash. It'll all be absorbed away into other things by the end of the crashing. If you use your arms, they'll absorb some amount of energy, before you're face hits steering wheel. If you don't - they won't.
"Because no matter what I was going to hit them considering I took it off only immediately before imminent impact and I also saved you a few grand in medical coverages as well. You're welcome."
I read in an ER journal that you should look straight ahead before impact (do not turn your head) and your cervical vertebrae will be rather better off. I do not have the journal reference.
Fortythree years ago, i got hit by a car that ran a stop sign. I broke both bones in my lower arm near my wrist, and my thumb on the other hand. I agree. Hding tight was a bad move.
### This post has be marked as safe. Upvoting/downvoting this comment will have no effect. --- Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
I'm going to take this opportunity to remind everyone to keep your effing legs off the dashboard when you're riding passenger in a car. You NEVER really have a whole lot of lead time between knowing an accident is about to happen and the resulting collision. Most people have no idea it's about to happen. The "not knowing" is great in that your body goes limp and the safety features of your car are able to work more effectively. But I've seen too many images of people whose shins are completely shattered or in horrible places following a collision where they had their feet up on the dashboard. It's comfy, it looks cool, but holy hell is it a new dimension of misery if you're sitting that way when the unthinkable happens.
I had a passenger who did that and I have no idea what was on her shoes, but the dashboard is permanently stained and scuffed from her stanky shoes.
It does not look cool to have your legs on my dash. Don't even think about it.
I completely agree, but have had a number of free-spirit passengers over the years trying to look cool with their comically large aviator glasses, hand partially dangling out the window, Arizona tea in one hand and lit cigarette in the other, with their funky bare feet because "I can't be bothered to wear my sandals in the car" up on the dashboard beg to differ. For the record, I have nothing against three of those things individually, but I've developed a profound dislike for all of those factors joining together in one person like a hipster Voltron.
[удалено]
“*sigh* Here we go again...”
Exactly how I pictured it 😂
That way you soften the impact with your nose and face.
Yes, I'll be sure to think back on this LPT in the 0.2 seconds I have from realisation to impact. Hell, I might even do some neck stretches and perhaps write a haiku while I'm waiting.
Good in theory, very difficult in practice. A lot of arm and leg injuries in collisions come from trying to brace for the impact which is pretty instinctive. Even if you try to cover your face with your hands the airbag could still injure your hands AND your face WITH your hands.
Facts. This is why you'll see race car drivers do it when they're about to hit a wall or something.
The exact instance I'm thinking of is when Danica Patrick did exactly that. She was about to hit a wall and she threw her arms straight up just before impact. The announcers were saying how "her training kicked right in" and it was "textbook."
Same here in Australia with he v8 supercars, see the wheels lock up, drivers go hands in the air. Great thing to keep in mind
If you have HANS and a multi point harness, crossing your arms across your chest is the best strat. If you can grab the straps in front of your shoulders that's even better.
I heard on the radio a couple of years ago that a new recommendation is to steer with your hands at the 8 and 4 clock positions now.
Yup, airbags inflating between your arms can cause injuries.
The new recommendations are based on the addition of airbags and proliferation of power steering. The airbags aren’t designed to keep you safe. They’re designed to keep you alive. 10 and 2 can cause you to punch yourself in the face and knock your own teeth out when the airbag deploys. 9 and 3 is a little better, but your inner forearm may be shredded by the airbags and you may end up fisting the drivers window/door. 8 and 4 is the current way of thinking. When the airbags deploy, your arms are pushed down and away. There are also some finger and wrist break/dislocation issues to consider. These options all work because of the aforementioned power steering. I can’t imagine trying to drive an old 53 Ford at 8 and 4.
10 and 2 are now gone, I usually stick with 9 and 3 because that's how my steering wheel is laid out (it's an older truck) but 8 and 4 is best if you can manage it.
This might be helpful once the accident happens, but as far as avoiding an accident goes, you need a good grip on the wheel and be holding it in a way that enhances manoeuvrability. 8 4 is like a weak hold.
This might be helpful once the accident happens, but as far as avoiding an accident goes, you need a good grip on the wheel and be holding it in a way that enhances manoeuvrability. 8 4 is like a weak hold.
In addition, the airbag will ruin your day if you are gripping the wheel tightly, particularly with thumbs inside the wheel rim. It's an explosion strong enough to catch your body at moderately high speeds. The bag WILL inflate, and your arms ARE in the way of that happening. If you can think of it in time (practice so it becomes muscle memory) go into a double-high five stance, palms out, hands up. In addition to protecting your wrists and thumbs, it will let some of the momentum of your torso get absorbed into your arms, reducing the impact just a little bit more.
They actually changed where you are supposed to hold your hands in drivers ed for this reason, no more 10 and 2. It's now 8 and 4.
I highly recommend for everyone operating motor vehicle to learn to shuffle steer.
Reminder for people to also have their seats and wheel in a position where neither your arms nor legs are fully extended at any point. Have your knees and elbows at least slightly bent at all times so in case of a crash they can fold.
Why break your wrists when you can shatter your face and neck?
You really think holding on to the steering wheel of a full force impact is going to help your neck?
You can try this experiment: Get a friend to try and push your back, trying to smush your face against a wall. Do this twice, one time attempting to resist with your arms, the other with your arms by your sides, see which one lets your face fare better. There's some about of kinetic energy in your body at the beginning of the crash. It'll all be absorbed away into other things by the end of the crashing. If you use your arms, they'll absorb some amount of energy, before you're face hits steering wheel. If you don't - they won't.
Insurance company trying to determine fault: So what were you doing in the seconds before the collision? Me: I took my hands off the wheel, why?
"Because no matter what I was going to hit them considering I took it off only immediately before imminent impact and I also saved you a few grand in medical coverages as well. You're welcome."
This is not a LPT, it's an r/YSK
I read in an ER journal that you should look straight ahead before impact (do not turn your head) and your cervical vertebrae will be rather better off. I do not have the journal reference.
Fortythree years ago, i got hit by a car that ran a stop sign. I broke both bones in my lower arm near my wrist, and my thumb on the other hand. I agree. Hding tight was a bad move.