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The possible safety concerns of over-decorated car interior
There is a point where decorating your vehicles's interior goes from making a statement to being a safety hazard.
Custom seatcovers are usually safe if they are properly installed and maintained. If they were not properly installed or are getting worn, they could come loose when braking or making a turn and you might slide affecting your ability to control the vehicle.
Floor mats are also usually safe if they are kept clean. If they stick to your feet or get bunched up under a pedal, this could become hazardous.
Consoles and cupholders - make sure they are the proper fit for the vehicle. If not they could shift around, get in the way, or spill their contents. All of these are distraction and can affect driving safety. In an accident these can become airborne if not properly secured.
Air freshners - look great and make the car smell better. Potential hazards are when they are not properly secured and start to "travel" through the car on their own.
"Hangees" - these are all the decorative touches that get hung off the rearview mirror. Everything from beads to good luck charms. Make sure they do not hang too low and get in the way when the vehicle makes turns or sudden stops. Also, don't use so many of them that you cannot see out of the windshield.
Electronics - everything from GPS to DVD players are added to vehicles these days. Make sure they are securely mounted and properly installed. If they come loose, obscure your view of either the road or your instrument panel, cause an electrical fire or become a distraction to the driver, they are no longer safe to have in the vehicle.
Fringe and beads, may look nice as trim but make sure they do not obscure your vision and are kept in good repair.
Bobble heads and other toys - Please make sure they are either secured or very soft. In the event of a sudden stop these will become airborne and could become a serious hazard as they fly through the air. Also, make sure they do not obscure the rear or front view of traffic.
As you can easily see the main safety hazards involve things that are not properly secured or block the drivers view or traffic. Secondary safety hazards are electrical fires, things that get under/or on the pedals and items that cause a distraction..
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