I often had a tendency to leave bottles lying around in my car.. .
But that was before I discovered the risks!
Yes, this banal gesture can cause serious accidents.
The bottle can easily roll and slip under the brake pedal.
As a result, it prevents you from braking! Unstoppable...
Now you understand why it is so dangerous. Watch:
Be careful, leaving a bottle in your car can represent a mortal danger under certain circumstances.
Many of us slip a bottle under the driver's seat.
This is a very bad idea...
Because imagine that the bottle starts to roll following a sudden braking or a sudden manoeuvre.
It can move easily and quickly find itself under the brake or accelerator pedal !
You will then be unable to brake or accelerate.
You will have to press very hard on the pedal to stop your vehicle.
And those precious lost seconds can be fatal .
Similarly, if you try to clear the bottle, you become distracted.
And there is a very high probability that you will take your eyes off the road for a few seconds.
The accident is never far away!
This is explained by the official page of the police in Malaysia.
Here is their warning:
"Many people have a habit of keeping water bottles either under the driver's seat or the passenger's seat.
Yet they should know that this is an obviously dangerous practice.
Because all you have to do is lose control of your vehicle for a short time for the bottle (regardless of whether it is 250ml or 1.5 litres) to end up behind your accelerator or brake pedal .
If such a thing ever happens, pressing will not help since you will have to exert a lot of pressure before you can release the pedal."
The danger exists with small and large bottles, cans or thermoses.
That being said, keeping a bottle in the car is a good reflex to have.
It is one of the essential things to keep in your car in all circumstances.
It's very practical for hydration of course.
But it's also handy for cleaning a spot on the seat, rinsing off your greasy hands, or replacing coolant in a short drive.
Provided to store it properly in the space provided for this purpose in your car.
Most cars now have bottle holders or cup holders.
So it's the perfect place to put your water bottle or can.
If it does not fit in this space, store it carefully in the drawer under the passenger seat.
Some cars are equipped with it.
You can also install a storage compartment or a car organizer to safely store your bottle.
Some models are installed on the back of the seats, others are clipped.
Finally, nothing prevents you from putting it in your trunk in a suitable storage.
It doesn't matter what you choose. It is just necessary that the bottle is well immobilized...
And that it cannot roll under the driving pedals!
Of course, this is not the only rule of road safety that must be applied to drive safely!
As a reminder, here are some basic rules that we must not forget :
- Put on your seat belt
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
- Obey speed limits.
- Do not overtake on the right
- Do not overtake dangerously
- Don't get distracted
- Do not use your mobile phone
- Respect the Highway Code and road signs:red light, no entry...
- Adopt eco-driving to save fuel and therefore money. Think about it!
