Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service warn of dangers of putting feet on car dashboards as part of Road Safety Week action

Firefighters and paramedics have joined forces to share a warning about a dangerous habit of car passengers.

As part of this year’s Road Safety Week, which began on November 17, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service have urged passengers to avoid the dangerous — and potentially fatal — habit of resting their feet on the dashboard.

To demonstrate the life-threatening consequences of the position, trainers at the fire service’s learning and development centre in Ollerton have created a powerful video showing the extreme impact of a simulated car crash using a test dummy.

Gemma Whelbourn, who trains firefighters across the county, created the demonstration along with the other trainers after it became one of her bugbears.

She said: “Whilst it might seem like a comfortable position, putting your feet up on the dashboard can lead to catastrophic injuries in the event of an accident.

“In a car crash your body can be forcefully thrown forward, and your feet can be propelled into your face — this can be life-altering and even fatal. Not only that, but if the car was to end up in an accident, the airbags could deploy — which is what is shown in the video — and again, cause serious injuries.”

Both the fire service and ambulance service have urging everyone to consider their safety when travelling in vehicles, especially during Road Safety Week.

Gemma added: “To prevent injuries happening in this situation, always sit upright and keep your feet on the floor, never rest your feet on the dashboard, and ensure all passengers are wearing seatbelts.

“Our priority is to save lives and prevent further injuries and fatalities, therefore this Road Safety Week we want to continue to remind you of our tips which can make you safer when on the road.

“Always stick to speed limits, never drink and drive, and refrain from using your mobile devices whilst your engine is on.

“As we enter the colder months, please drive accordingly to the road and weather conditions, and leave an appropriate gap between you and the vehicle in front.”

So far this year, firefighters have attended 511 road traffic collisions across Nottinghamshire, with 167 of them involving casualties.