TRANSPORTATION MATTERS for IOWA

Message Monday - Feb. 29, 2016 - Don't leap from your seat - buckle up


2-29 message mondayHere’s a little leap year math for you. Feb. 29 is a date that occurs in most years that are divisible by 4, such as 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. Years that are divisible by 100, but not by 400, do not contain a leap day. Now that you’ve had your math lesson, let’s move on to physics. Newton’s First Law of Motion says an object (your body) in motion will continue in motion unless a force (seat belt) is there to prevent it.

Math and science hypotheses can be proven true or false, but what about this statement? “I don’t wear my seat belt because if I crash it is safer to be thrown clear of the car than to stay buckled in.”

This is false. In fact, being thrown safely clear in a crash is almost impossible. There’s a good chance you will be thrown around the vehicle, through the windshield or other window, scraped along the pavement, or crushed by your vehicle or another one involved in the crash. The idea of being thrown from a car and gently landing away from the crash is highly unlikely. Your best bet is to stay inside the vehicle, securely held by your seat belt.

This video was made by Ford to test the glass on their 1988 Expedition. It is very telling to watch how bodies fly when they are unbuckled. There are six unbuckled and weighted dummies inside the vehicle. https://youtu.be/XkkwRPBOVdE

The fatality count of 43 an increase of four from last Monday. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to http://bit.ly/1QFbcyj.

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