When sitting in the front passenger seat of a car, many people often rest their legs on the dashboard to relieve tiredness, not realizing that this action can lead to serious consequences.

Why should you avoid resting your feet on the dashboard? There are two important things you need to know:

First, the dashboard is where the airbag is located. Second, the deployment speed of the airbag is very fast, approximately 160-320 km/h.

Therefore, if you rest your legs on the dashboard and a sudden, strong collision occurs, you won’t be able to quickly pull your feet down in time, as the airbag will deploy rapidly. At this moment, the airbag will cause your head to snap back, and your leg will hit your face with extreme force, resulting in serious injuries to your eyes, forehead, nose, etc. This can be very dangerous.

There have been actual cases where people broke their legs or lost limbs because the airbag deployed in a crash while they had their feet resting on the dashboard.

One such case occurred with Audra Tatum in Walker County, Georgia, USA. While traveling in a car with her husband, Audra had her feet on the dashboard when the vehicle was moving at an average speed within a safe range. Suddenly, another vehicle crashed into their car, causing the airbag to deploy immediately, forcing Audra's leg to snap backward. She suffered serious injuries to her pelvis, ankle, nose, and shoulder.

After emergency treatment, doctors stated that if Audra had been sitting normally with her feet on the floor, she would not have been hurt when the airbag deployed. However, because her feet were on the dashboard, she had to endure severe pain for up to two years afterward.

Another case involves Grainne Kealy from Ireland, who was resting her feet on the dashboard of her boyfriend’s Jeep. An accident occurred due to icy road conditions, causing the airbag to deploy with nearly 200 km/h of force, striking her face. As a result, Grainne had to undergo multiple surgeries to reconstruct her face and eventually had to have part of her forehead removed. Years later, she received a transplant for an artificial forehead, but the damage to her nervous system could not be repaired.

In addition to the habit of resting feet on the dashboard, many people make the mistake of placing objects on this area, such as figurines, perfumes, or other decorations, which are not securely fastened. In the event of an accident or emergency braking, these objects can be launched into the back seat and injure passengers. Some car owners even stick tape or stickers on this area, which can interfere with the functioning of the airbag.

It is also not advisable to place a child’s seat facing backward if the car is equipped with a front passenger airbag, as the deployment of the airbag could forcefully push the child into the back of the front seat, potentially causing serious injury or suffocation. If it is absolutely necessary to place a child’s seat in the front passenger seat, ensure that the seat is securely fastened with a seatbelt and moved as far back from the dashboard as possible. Also, deactivate the airbag on the front passenger side.

People who sit too close to the airbag, or rest their hands or feet in the area of the airbag, are also at risk of serious injury. As mentioned, the airbag deploys very quickly and with great force, so being too close to it can lead to significant harm when the airbag inflates. It is always better for the driver to keep their hands on the outer edges of the steering wheel and avoid placing them on the airbag area. Passengers in the front seat should always keep their feet on the floor. The seat should be positioned as far from the airbag as possible, and the seatbelt should be worn properly.

Safety experts warn that even when the car is stopped, you should never rest your feet on the dashboard. This is because you cannot be certain that nothing will happen while your car is stationary. If another vehicle were to crash into yours, the airbag could deploy, and your legs and face would still be at risk.

Even in cars without front passenger airbags, resting your feet on the dashboard remains dangerous, as it could still lead to serious injuries in the event of a crash.