Calming Your Cluttered Car to Keep You Safe

Clutter in your car is not only uncomfortable for you and your passengers, but it can be a safety hazard. Any unsecured objects in your car can become dangerous projectiles. When you unexpectedly need to come to a sudden stop or worse, if you end up in an accident they can fly through the car and injure someone and cause more harm than the situation would have been. "In 2001, an estimated 13,000 crashes occurred in which an unrestrained object caused injury to an occupant," says Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, Inc..

The best place to keep items is in the trunk, but that is not always feasible and most SUV's and minivans do not even have trunks. If you drive a car that only has a back open cargo area you need to keep your items secure by using a cargo net or the roll out cargo cover, that might have originally come with your vehicle. If your car did not come with cargo netting or a cover they can easily be purchased at most auto accessory stores or websites. Most vehicles, even if not sold with accessories come with the hooks built in to secure them to.

In addition to objects, pets need to be secured in your car. Just as you get in your car and don't feel right without your seat belt on, your pet should feel the same way. If they are not secured they too can fly through the car and could end up injured or injuring someone else. If you have a cat or other animal that is in a carrier, then buckle the carrier to the seat. If you have a larger dog, then purchase a restraint made to attach to a vehicles safety belt. They are available at PetSmart and other pet stores.

Things you might use every day, like cell phones need to be secured too. Make use of the center console and the map pocket on the side of your doors. Also, a front seat organizer, an under-the-seat storage box and organizers that hang from the back of your seat can be a good investment. Things you need to keep close and at hand can go in a front seat organizer, a map pocket or the center console. Items you need, but not as often, can go in your glove compartment, an under seat storage bin or a hanging backseat organizer. Make sure when purchasing a hanging backseat organizer that it is secured to the bottom of the seat also, to prevent it from flying up during an accident.

When traveling on a vacation it is hard to avoid not piling things in your car. Even if everything for your trip could fit in your trunk, it might not be safe to put everything in there. Too much weight in your trunk can cause the front of your car to ride higher than normal, which can affect handling and the could affect the height of the headlights, causing them to shine right at oncoming drivers. The best thing to do is make sure weight is distributed evenly, but still secure. When you need to carry items in your car make sure that they are placed low, for better safety. Avoid putting anything on the shelf at the back of your vehicle.

Roof racks help eliminate the hazards of flying objects in your car, but they may not be the best option to store items on trips. When you store things on your roof rack it produces drag when you are driving and it can cut your fuel economy by about 5 percent, according to fueleconomy.gov. Using your roof rack can also be more of a safely concern for SUV's. It can cause them to be even more top heavy, when even without the use of the roof rack, that is already a concern. It would be best to avoid using the roof rack, if you can. But, if you need it try to put only the light items on the rack and keep the heavier item inside the car.

Not only will organizing the clutter in your car help keep you safe, it can also help you feel calm and more comfortable in your own car. Getting in the habit of using these few simple tips can help keep you and your family safe during short drives around town or long drives across the country.

Sources:

Westways, July/August 2008, Cutting the Clutter in your Car

http://www.childrenshospitaloakland.org/healthcare/depts/injury_cars.asp

http://www.babyzone.com/safety/car_seats/article/car-safety-tips-save-lives

http://fueleconomy.gov/feg/planning.shtml