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(ARA) – How safety conscious are you when you get behind the wheel? Sure you put on a seat belt, but what other precautions do you take? If you’re like most people, not very many.
Unless you’re going on a long trip, you probably don’t take the time to check the air pressure in your tires, or the car’s oil and transmission levels before setting out. And you certainly don’t take the time to secure any of the objects that could become projectiles in the event of a crash -- but you really should.
According to Newton’s first law of motion, a body in motion will remain in that state until acted on by an outside force. So if a vehicle traveling 50 miles per hour were to all of a sudden stop as a result of an accident, or while trying to avoid one, anyone or anything not belted in would continue traveling.
Even if you took the time to buckle up, you may still be in harm’s way. Because you didn’t take the time to secure them, that bag of groceries you set down on the back seat floor, your cell phone and even the purse you set down next to you could become a flying projectile with the potential to injure or kill you or your passengers.
Accidents are rare, but they do happen, so you need to take precautions. The easiest way to protect yourself from flying debris is to store loose objects in the trunk; but what do you do if you have a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that doesn’t have one? “Many SUVs on the market today come with cargo nets. They are a good start, but there’s a lot more you can do,” says Michael Morrissey, Saturn product communications manager.
The automaker’s Vue SUV comes standard with a rear cargo organizer that locks into place when you need to store miscellaneous items like groceries, backpacks and small suitcases. There is even a compartment specifically designed to securely hold a gallon of milk. The organizer quickly folds flat into the floor of the vehicle when you need extra space for such things as golf clubs and skis. “Larger items need to be tied down too,” points outs Morrissey. “The Vue has metal tie-down points built into the floor of the car you can attach rope or bungee cords to in order to secure your items.”
In order to be truly safety conscious, you should also take steps to secure pets that are traveling with you. Never allow a pet to run loose in the vehicle. For their safety and yours, bring the animal in a cargo carrier that is secured to the floor in the back, just like any other larger object. If your vehicle doesn’t have tie-downs, use the seat belt to secure the carrier in the back seat.
For more information about the Saturn Vue, log on to www.saturn.com. Courtesy of ARA Content