Remember when we were kids and would fight for the front seat? After a movie with some friends this past Thursday night, I watched one of the guy's the two young daughters race to the family van to get the "better" seat. Our conversation fell to why neither of the girls could actually get the front seat like we used to do. Aside from it being against the law, (at least here in Ontario it is), it’s also unsafe! Cars will KILL our kids now!
Why is it so dangerous? The cars are designed to collapse in accidents so that the metal of the car will absorb the crash energy and not kill the occupants. The “body” of a car is designed to be a crash cage, and there are improved seat belt systems to better restrain and not kill the occupants. Forward air bags to soften the impact so as not to kill the occupants; side air bags to soften the impact so as not to kill the occupants; black box computer controls, (they've been in our cars for years), anti lock brake systems, traction control and even anti skid systems, all of which are supposed to make a car "safer".
Still, with all these technological marvels it is more dangerous than ever for kids to be in a car. The seat belt systems STILL don't account for the size of a child and the forward air bags will actually kill!
The "industry" solution number 1: put the kids in the back seat where there is no air bag to blow up in their face and break their neck.
Um, ok? Wait...the seat belts aren't designed to accommodate a kid so now it’s the seat belts which will break them in half!
The "industry" solution number 2: use "booster" seats; make the kid fit the car!
Yeah, make the kid fit the car!
Now, this seems a little messed up to me.Here's a thought …automotive manufacturers should incorporate more family friendly measures in their offerings. Something like kid friendly seat belts and air bags - maybe supply the booster seat with a vehicle.
Just something to think about, and something else for me to bitch about!
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