With the recent recalls, there has been a lot of discussion regarding floor mats˳ These inconspicuous accessories to every automobile on the planet have rarely been the focus of intense discussion˳ Indeed, most of the time the only way a floor mat is mentioned is if it is dirty or particularly funny/interesting˳
But, since the slew of accidents and even fatalities, the spotlight has been rightfully shined on these potential hazards˳
How is a floor mat dangerous?
The danger of floor mats don’t come from anything mechanical, but more in their ability to stay in place˳ If a mat were to slide forward when a driver is actively engaged in using the accelerator and brake pedals, it could cause an unwanted increase or decrease in speed˳
Some instances of floor mat disruption involve the brakes˳ If a mat bunches up underneath a brake it could hamper the drivers ability to depress the pedal˳ When braking, a person only has a small window to react properly and this kind of distraction has been known to delay reaction long enough to cause accidents˳
The other major way mats can be dangerous is causing a sticking effect of the accelerator˳ Sometimes the mat gets flipped on top of the pedal, other times its gripping nature causes the pedal to stay depressed˳ In both scenarios the driver does not get the reduction in acceleration when they release the pedal, which can cause distraction and problems when trying to brake in time˳
What kind of floor mats are dangerous?
The most dangerous floor mats are after market models that do not properly fit the mold of your vehicle˳ It is the driver’s responsibility when purchasing an after market mat to make sure it fits, and ideally, works well with any hooks or stabilizing elements your car features˳
Also dangerous are mats that are explicitly recalled from companies˳ These are mats that do not work well with safety measures put in place, or simply do not have enough safety measures to begin with˳
Are there any solutions to mat problems?
If you are worried about mat safety, the first and best thing you can do is simply remove the mat˳ Your car floor may get dirty, but it is much better than suffering a crash˳
Continue to err on the side of safety until you can find a model that secures tightly to your vehicle, and ideally has retaining hooks to keep it in place˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?Can-My-Car-Floor-Mats-Cause-Me-to-Crash?&id=3786978
