The evolution of the security systems, more advanced and effective for those who guide and for those who sit at their side, has overturned the risk data in the car.
“Those who sit in front, next to the driver, have the privileges of the shooter”. This was how it was said at the time of the Far West, when the passenger next to the guidance of diligence enjoyed the best view without the responsibilities of the peak, even if he was often forced to smear a rifle to defend the race from any assaults. In short, it was the most coveted place, but is it still the case for the car today?
Perhaps … many studies show that not all seats offer the same degree of protection and that, in case of impact, the point where you find can make the difference between a serious injury and an avoided one.
Central place. According to several searches, the central rear seat is the safest. Being further away from the goalkeeper, it reduces the risk of intrusions in case of lateral impact and offers a greater “buffer area” than other places.
To suggest it first was an old analysis on all the fatal accidents in the United States between 2000 and 2003, conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s, which highlighted how those who sit on the central rear seat had on average 25% more likely to survive compared to the other car occupants.
More recent studies have confirmed it, underlining how the difference is even more marked for children under 3 years of age, which have a risk of injuries reduced even 43% if placed in the center compared to the side stations.
In addition, up to the age of 13, experts recommend never to sit a very young man on the front seat, since the airbags are designed for adult bodies and can become dangerous if they explode at 300 km/h against still fragile bones.
Trend reversal. The same study found that being on a rear seat reduced the risk of death of 39% and of serious injuries of 33% compared to sitting in the front of the car.
Recently, however, the evolution of security systems – more advanced and effective for those who guide and for those who sit at their side – overturned the situation. This was stated by researchers from the University of Kobe, Japan, which have detected that the probability of death for those who sit behind both 22% and 44% greater than those who sit in front.
The data then highlight how, between the two front seats, there is a substantial risk balance, although that of the driver is slightly preferred, due to the presence of the steering wheel which in some cases represents an additional additional protective barrier rather than an obstacle.
Choice of the vehicle. Obviously, it doesn’t only count where you sit, but also the type of car. Safety regulations set minimum standards, but not all cars are equivalent: some offer advanced protections, others are limited to the indispensable in order to be sold at a lower cost.
It is important, for example, to check the presence of curtain airbags that cover all seats files: many SUVs or minivans are provided only for the front row. These systems significantly reduce side shock trauma and are also safe for children (as long as they are insured in the seat or with the belt).
Added to this is the role of independent crash tests, such as those conducted by Euro Ncap, which allow you to objectively compare the performance of the different models and move towards the most reliable options.
Glass and roof. Another crucial detail concerns the materials: better to privilege cars with laminated side glass, consisting of two layers of crystal and an internal plastic film that prevents the surface from shattering in thousands of splinters.
This type of glass is mandatory only for the windshield, but in the most well -kept cars it also extends to the windows and panoramic roofs. Finally there is the resistance of the roof, decisive in the event of reversal:
The optimal value is a force/weight ratio of at least 4, that is, the ability to support the weight of the vehicle four times without giving in. Some safer models even reach 5, ensuring a structure that limits the risk of crushing.
