Riding shotgun with feet on the dash: WTH?

[dnastrau]

This just makes me shake my head in disbelief... When driving on the highway I see a lot of cars pass by with the person in the front passenger seat stretched out riding with their shoeless feet on the dashboard or windshield.

All I can think of is what would happen to that person if they get into a bad accident: Air bag goes off under their feet, body jacknifes under the seat belt, person exiting the car feet first through the windshield, etc. Where has common sense gone, especially in this age where auto saftey has been such big news since the mid 1960's?

Sorry - I needed to vent!

Andrew S.

 

[bullwinkle]

Funny-my youngest son just started to do that today-told him if there was an accident & the air bags deployed-he'd break both his legs & be in a full body cast, minimum-he had his legs down before I was done telling him!

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: dnastrau
This just makes me shake my head in disbelief... When driving on the highway I see a lot of cars pass by with the person in the front passenger seat stretched out riding with their shoeless feet on the dashboard or windshield.

All I can think of is what would happen to that person if they get into a bad accident: Air bag goes off under their feet, body jacknifes under the seat belt, person exiting the car feet first through the windshield, etc. Where has common sense gone, especially in this age where auto saftey has been such big news since the mid 1960's?

Sorry - I needed to vent!

Andrew S.


At the risk of sounding like an old [censored] - I agree! I've often thought that. Most people have the attitude that "It will NEVER happen to me."

Common sense is all but gone. We keep passing laws to try and save people from themselves!

 

[Kuato]

I'd think that they'll get a broken pelvis and back damage as well. We're not meant to be folded in two - at least not at 60mph.

You would think people would have some common sense!

 

[dparm]

This is where Darwinism comes into play. If people want to be stupid, so be it.

As long as parents aren't letting their kids do it, I could care less.

 

[JHZR2]

What?!? It will never happen to me...

 

[Cup of Joe]

Dash, windshield, out the window see it all the time during the summer.

I have a better one.

Passed a fellow driving a truck, he had his left leg on the dash next to the window.

What I still cannot figure out is how is that comfortable.

 

[Nick R]

funny you mention this, because I too have noticed this alot lately myself, at least during the summer months. I don't understand why people do this. But then... If they want to die in a car accident, then that is their perogative. (sp?)

 

[mechanicx]

I use to see that more often than I do now for whatever reason. I remember for a short period of time women would drive with their child in their laps. I think sticking your bare feet on the dash or out the window is a sloppy display. It is like they are advertising they have smelly feet and need to air them out lol.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
I use to see that more often than I do now for whatever reason. I remember for a short period of time women would drive with their child in their laps. I think sticking your bare feet on the dash or out the window is a sloppy display. It is like they are advertising they have smelly feet and need to air them out lol.



I've seen that too. Just what I want to see on my way to work, someones feet.

 

[Steve S]

It will never happen to me but then I do not really care for airbags. I would rather have the $$$ put into the build quality of the chassis or sheetmetal.

 

[Cutehumor]

Darwin...

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
It will never happen to me but then I do not really care for airbags. I would rather have the $$$ put into the build quality of the chassis or sheetmetal.



Uh..... Airbags are meant to prevent YOU from impacting the steering wheel or dashboard at whatever speed the car was going when it hit whatever object. Just a seatbelt protecting you would severely injure your shoulder, chest, back... And a stronger chassis would just mean less crumple, thus less impact absobtion so you hit the steering wheel even faster and harder.

 

[Spazdog]

I wonder how many people have lost the lower part of thier leg from leaning back with their feet hanging out the corner of the window?

Particularly young women.

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
I wonder how many people have lost the lower part of thier leg from leaning back with their feet hanging out the corner of the window?

Particularly young women.

I have also noticed this trend as well..

I'm thinking that some stupid movie or tv show is promoting this stupid behavior ...anyone ?

 

[The motor guy]

My buddy does that all the time in my truck. Except im more concerned about him putting his foot through the ac vent. I always have to remind him to wear his seatbelt. Im glad he must think im a good safe driver but man. The best driver in the world won't stop that one idiot that pulls out in front of you.

 

[PF52]

People have been doing this as long as I can remember. If anything, it might be less prevalent now, since so many people are terrified of airbags.

Just as bad, if not worse, was the way my brother and I were allowed to ride in the front seat when we were little. We'd stand upright on the front seat, leaning back against the seatback. Great view out the windshield! It was a sad day when I was too tall to ride this way anymore.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
I live in the Tropics and we have many International backpackers pass through here

This behaviour is becoming common amongst them - and sadly - a LOT of other young people here too

 

[Tempest]

I see a lot of feet hanging out of windows here. Real classy...

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: TaterandNoodles
Passed a fellow driving a truck, he had his left leg on the dash next to the window.

What I still cannot figure out is how is that comfortable.


I'm sitting at my PC at the moment, both knees on the desk in a semi-lotus, and my forearms resting on my shins as I peck at the keyboard...it's comfortable to me.

But on the original topic, I guess that it at least is more likely to prevent one becoming hopelessly crippled in an accident.

After being bent double, and submarining under the seat belt, you are exceedingly unlikely to survive the internal injuries, and would likely asphyxiate before you were extracted.