For
many, driving is a daily task. Every single day, you put yourself in
a large metal structure that moves by way of many small explosions.
These small explosions move you at high velocities around other large
metal structures that are also moving at high velocities. There is a
staggering number of 5 million car crashes every year. It is amazing
that there aren’t more deaths caused by these vehicles. Engineers
and researchers have spent years working on making these vehicles
safer. They have come up with several ways to travel safer in these
vehicles.




It
is important for drivers to make sure that these safety devices are
in the proper condition, before driving. Some of these safety devices
include; seat belts, airbags, crumple zones, and headrests. All of
these devices were made using simple physics concepts. In a car
collision, there is almost always a very fast rate of change in the
velocity. These safety devices must increase the time between the
point of collision and the point at which the velocity is zero.




Buckling
your seat belt is something that many people deem to be unimportant.
They might be surprised to find out that taking those extra seconds
to buckle your seat belt could, in fact, save your life. When you are
driving in a car, you might feel like you are not moving, however,
you are moving at the same velocity as your car and with the same
momentum. If your seat belt is not restraining you, then if there is
a sudden change in velocity you will continue to proceed with the
same momentum and velocity as your car. This means that you will
continue to move through your windshield and into the asphalt, which
is where friction comes into play.



Adjusting
your headrest to properly support your head seems like a very trivial
thing, but that headrest can prevent some serious damage to your head
and neck during a collision. Your headrest protects your head from
being thrown back too far, after a sudden change in momentum.




A
properly working air bag and crumple zone increases the time between
the initial impact and the final resting point. By increasing the
time between these two points, the driver involved in the collision
will be protected from injuries that would otherwise occur without
the airbag or crumple zone. An air bag and crumple zone are not
things that you can change. Yet, there are still more ways that you
can be safer on the road.



All
of these safety devices were created because drivers are constantly
distracted by handheld devices and getting into collisions. Cell
phones keep drivers preoccupied when they should be focused intently
on the road. So, put that phone down because that text you are
getting ready to send could be your last.



Our
roads can be in safer condition if drivers use the devices that are
there to preserve your life. Taking the extra time to buckle your
seat belt or adjust your headrest is worth it in the long run. Safety
saves numerous lives every day. Do not take these safety measures
lightly. Make the streets safer.