Road safety awareness may be at the forefront of a driver’s mind, but there’s one hazard for vehicle occupants that we sometimes overlook. Do you put toys, bags and other items on the back seat of your car? Do you sometimes remove the parcel shelf or tonneau cover if you are carrying suitcases or bulky items? If you do, you may not realise that these items pose a real hazard to passengers and drivers – it’s a different aspect of road safety awareness.
In an American study of children involved in car crashes, it found that 23% were injured by loose objects in the car, other passengers, or both.¹ Unfortunately, in the UK, there are similar issues. It is a sad statistic that approximately 5 people die every day on UK roads and many more people are injured. In 2016, 816 car occupants were killed, 8,975 were seriously injured with 99,255 sustaining minor injuries.² During National Road Victim Month, we’re highlighting the dangers for people travelling in vehicles daily who are unaware of the hazards posed by unsecured items in the boot of the car or on back seats if the driver needs to brake hard.
Travall has a simple solution to the problem of injury from in-car hazards. The solution comes in the form of a Travall Guard. The guard acts as a barrier between items in the boot and the vehicle occupants. This vehicle-specific accessory offers greater protection for all. However, it is especially helpful if you are travelling with a baby in a rear-facing car seat.
The Travall Guard is a vehicle-specific accessory. This means you achieve such a precise fit in your vehicle, you won’t have to deal with the annoying rattles typical of universal barriers. You can install the Travall Guard simply at home in as little as 15 minutes. There are no vehicle modifications required and all the necessary screws come in the fitting kit supplied. Once installed the fit is secure, so you know it will stay in position even on the bumpiest of roads.
In addition to providing protection for passengers, the guard allows you to maximise the space in your boot. Or, if you have a dog, it helps reduce driver distraction by keeping your dog securely positioned at the rear of vehicle.
National Road Victim Month is a good time to think about road safety awareness within your vehicle to help shield your passengers. Take a tour through the vehicle selector on Travall’s website. See what’s available for the car you drive, so you can enjoy the journey on every journey.
Reference
- Adlam, E. Hidden Dangers in your Car: When everyday objects turn deadly. Readers Digest. (2003),550-557.
- Department of Transport. Reported road casualties in Great Britain: 2016 annual report. September 2017 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/648081/rrcgb2016-01.pdf
