It goes like this: You need to get where you’re going, but it’s in the middle of the city, and there’s no way you’re going to find parking. You might as well have a drink or two while you’re there anyway, so it’s definitely not a good idea to get behind the wheel of a car. So instead, you call your favorite car service, like Uber or Lyft. After some waiting, the car arrives. The last thing you want to deal with is a chatty driver, so you slide in the backseat, where you pray they’ll forget you’re there.
We’ve all been there. Getting into the backseat of your Uber or Lyft is common practice by everyone who utilizes the services. But while this practice may seem like the best choice from a social standpoint, it turns out, it may not actually be the best choice for your safety.
Studies have shown that the backseat is actually a lot less safe than the front. For so long, analysts and mechanics have been so focused on advancing the safety of passengers in the front seat, which was traditionally the more dangerous seat, that they forgot to put the same attention on the backseats. Due to the lack of safety features in the back that are typically featured in the front, such as front airbags and advanced seat belts, back seat riders are at a greater risk for injury or fatality than you might think.
For more information about the details of this backseat situation, check out this site.
Next time, when you’re hopping in your Uber, maybe think about jumping in the front seat instead. It might just save your life.
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