1. lesson 9.5 CONTROLLING FORCE OF IMPACT
You know a traffic collision can happen in the blink of an eye. Be prepared to protect yourself and your passengers to reduce the risk of injury.
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2. List three factors that affect the force of impact in a collision.
OBJECTIVE

3. Force of Impact
The force with which a moving object hits another object is called force of impact.
Three factors determine the force of impact:
speed
weight
time between initial impact and stopping

4. Speed A vehicle’s momentum is proportional to its speed and weight.
Any reduction in speed will reduce the damage inflicted.

5. Weight
The heavier a vehicle, the more damage it will cause in a collision.
A vehicle weighing twice as much as another vehicle will hit a solid object twice as hard.

6. Time Between Impact and Stopping
How quickly a vehicle stops affects the force of the impact.
Which has the greater force of impact: a truck hitting a stone wall or a truck hitting a patch of bushes?
Why?
How do traffic engineers help reduce the force of impact when building roadways?

7. Identify the proper use of safety belts.
OBJECTIVE

8. Safety Belts
When a vehicle hits an object, inertia causes the driver and passengers to continue forward until they hit the inside of the vehicle or their restraint devices.
What is a restraint device?
An active restraint device is a device you must engage, such as a safety belt.
A device that works automatically, such as an air bag, is a passive restraint device.

9. Wearing a safety belt is your first defense in an emergency.
During a crash, how does a safety belt protect you?

10. Identify the two components of a safety belt.
Why is the safety belt webbing flexible?

11. Follow these steps to maximize protection from your safety belt:
Adjust the seat back.
Latch the buckle.
Adjust the lap portion of the safety belt.
Adjust the shoulder belt.
You risk serious injury if you wear your shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.

12. Describe how air bags have been improved and how to get the maximum benefit from air bags.
OBJECTIVE

13. Air Bags
An air bag is a balloon-type device that automatically inflates to protect you in a collision.
How do air bags protect occupants?

14. Frontal Air Bags
Air bags that deploy only when there is a crash at the front of the vehicle are called frontal air bags.
How are first-generation air bags different from air bags in new vehicles today?

15. Advanced frontal air bags have been required on all cars and light trucks since September 2006.
Describe how advanced frontal air bag systems work.

16. Side Air Bags
Other air bags, called side air bags, are designed to protect your head and chest in a collision.
How can side impact air bags protect occupants from injury and from ejection during a rollover?

17. Using Air Bags Effectively
Air bags are designed to work with safety belts.

18. Keep your hands on the steering wheel between the 9:00 and 3:00 or 8:00 and 4:00 positions for the best control.

19. Why is it important to adjust your seat so that your chest is at least 10 inches away from the hub of the steering wheel?
Describe the difference between the driver’s side air bag and the front seat passenger air bag.

20. Explain how child passengers can be protected.
OBJECTIVE

21. Child Passenger Safety
All states have laws that require proper restraints for infants and children traveling in vehicles.
These laws are specific to age and weight.
Safety belts usually do not fit children until they are between 8 and 12 years old.
How should these children be safely restrained?

22. Know the proper ways to install and use child safety- restraint seats.
Infants one year old or younger and weighing up to 20 pounds should be carried in a rear-facing car seat.
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23. What type of car seat is shown here?
Children older than age one and more than 20 pounds should be carried in a forward-facing car seat.
What type of car seat is shown here?
The copyright holder has not granted permission to display this photograph in a downloadable format. You may view the photograph in the Drive Right Presentation for this lesson on your Keys to Teaching Success disc.

24. All children younger than 13 years should sit or be carried in the back seat.
The copyright holder has not granted permission to display this photograph in a downloadable format. You may view the photograph in the Drive Right Presentation for this lesson on your Keys to Teaching Success disc.

25. Other Protective Devices
Automobile manufacturers are making vehicles safer for all of us.
Crush zones The front and rear ends of vehicles are designed to be crushed during a collision.
Energy-absorbing bumpers Bumpers are designed to absorb low levels of impact (under 5 mph) without damage.
Side-impact panels Reinforced panels on the sides of a vehicle help absorb crash energy.
Penetration-resistant windshields Windshields with a layer of plastic between layers of glass protect against flying glass.

26. Head restraints Padded headrests on the top of seats are designed to protect against whiplash injuries.
How should you adjust your head restraint?

27. lesson 9.5 review
Name the three factors that affect the force of impact. Which of these can a driver control?
You are driving a car with air bags. What are three key steps you should take to protect yourself?