The study that explains which seat is the least safe in a car

When you sit in the driver's or co-driver's seat, you will probably attach a seatbelt. Or at least that's what you should do.

But do you do the same thing when you go to the back? And if you do not do it, is it because you think you are not running as much danger if you are in an accident?

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A new study from the Insurance Institute for Road Safety in the United States (IIHS) badyzes the consequences of road accidents for pbadengers left behind.

According to the report released in April, traveling to the back is not the safest. Not even when you wear the belt. Why this conclusion?

Injuries to the chest

In recent years, automakers have improved safety measures for the driver and co-driver, but have left out other pbadengers, according to the IIHS, one of the largest security organizations in the United States.

In cars built since 2000, front pbadengers benefit from the protection of front and side airbags and a mechanism of tensioners and force limiters with which seat belts contain the pbadenger in the event of a collision.

According to the study of the IIHS, these safety devices are devoid of rear seats.

In cars built since 2000, front pbadengers benefit from the protection of front and side airbags and a mechanism of turnbuckles and force limiters with which seat belts contain the pbadenger in the event of a collision.

The institute badyzed data on automobile accidents occurring between 2004 and 2015 from two databases of the US Department of Transportation.

In 117 accidents in which subsequent pbadengers died or were seriously injured, IIHS found that the most common injuries were in the thorax.

In many cases, rear pbadengers suffered more serious injuries than those at the front. In addition, the IIHS believes that the death of several pbadengers in many of the fatalities could be avoided.

In 117 accidents in which subsequent pbadengers died or were seriously injured, IIHS found that the most common injuries were to the thorax

"Belts can prevent a rear pbadenger from colliding with the vehicle interior, but belts without a force limiter can cause chest injuries," says the institute.

"More sophisticated (security) containment systems are needed at the back," he adds.

Forgotten seats

Shaun Kildare, director of research at the organization of road safety, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety, told BBC Mundo that although the study is heavily focused on a limited number of people. accidents, it raises some concerns about the following seats.

"We improved the belts forward and we added airbags, but we did not do much for the rear seats, they were left behind," he said. "In addition, the number of pbadengers returning home has increased due to users of Uber or Lyft (and other taxi services)."

However, Kildare states that these conclusions do not mean that the back sites are dangerous, but that they have been forgotten.

The IHSS recommends that the rear seatbelts be equipped with load limiters or that they be inflatable, as some brands of cars already do, and that the rear seats also have front airbags .

"We are confident in the fact that automakers will find a way to solve this riddle on the back as they did on the front," said David Harkey, president of the IHSS.