I know it's shocking to see any sort of common sense coming out of the federal government these days, but not purposely turning your steering wheel into a deadly weapon seems look like a good bit of advice.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a warning to U.S. drivers, asking them to please stop putting aftermarket decals and decorations on their steering wheels, especially those with rhinestones.
Things like this:
You see, that's where the airbag comes out.
And it comes out at roughly 200 miles per hour.
Now, imagine that airbag is covered in 200 mph rhinestones flying at your face.
Tiny, shiny, beautiful little bullets.
The NHTSA explains,
"The product is a metal or plastic plate, usually covered with rhinestones or other shiny decorations, with an adhesive back that covers the vehicle's logo in the center of the steering wheel. In a crash, the force of a deploying air bag can turn the product into a projectile, resulting in serious injury or death.
"Unlike the permanently affixed logo on your vehicle's steering wheel, these aftermarket decals can easily become dislodged when the air bag is deployed."
And they give an example,
"At least one driver suffered a serious injury that resulted in the loss of sight in one eye, when an aftermarket emblem adorned with rhinestones became dislodged from the steering wheel in a crash and hit the driver in the face."
Guess he or she went from being a rhinestone cowboy to being a rhinestone pirate.
Ouch!
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