Air-bag peril? Keep your feet on the floor

Question: Now that the weather is nicer, I see many passengers putting their feet up either out the window or on the dashboard. With air bags armed and ready to protect people in the event of a crash, what would that do to people in the event of deployment?

- P.B., Skokie, Ill.
Answer: They will be injured. Not only may legs be broken by the air bag, the body will be unrestrained by seat belts. This will likely result in extensive injuries, if not death. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that the energy required to quickly inflate air bags can cause injury to people sitting or thrown too close to the air bag before it deploys. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that from 1990-2008, more than 290 deaths were caused by frontal air-bag inflation in low-speed crashes. More than 80 percent of people killed were unbelted or improperly restrained. Most of the people who died were passengers.

Q: What is with these people who won't open the driver's window of their cars? I know you have seen them. In the drive-through at the bank, at the burger joint, at the ATM, etc. They open the door instead. Both sexes, all races and ethnicities, all ages. And don't suggest the window is inoperable, because these are new or nearly new cars. At least offer an opinion. These people are driving me and many, many others nuts!

- J.B., Lansing, Ill.
A: Take a chill pill, J.B. Maybe they are too short or their arms are too short to reach the machine. Maybe they are blind and need to access the braille dot pattern. We saw a book the other day titled People Can't Drive You Crazy If You Don't Give Them the Keys. Good advice.

Q: When catalytic converters first came out, they were being blamed for starting grass fires when people parked their cars on dry grass. I seem to remember warnings on the visors about not parking your car on dry grass. I don't hear about this anymore. Have changes with catalytic converters eliminated this danger?

- W.L., Chicago
A: The Environmental Protection Agency and NHTSA have been monitoring the frequency and type of such incidents. Based on a review done in 1976, the NHTSA concluded that "the rate and nature of catalytic converter incidents do not present an unreasonable risk of health or injury to the public." Heat shields are part of the solution. If you keep your car properly maintained, you should normally have no problems. If you notice the engine running rough, or your "check engine" light is illuminated, you may have a misfiring spark plug. Be sure to have that checked promptly to avoid overheating the converter. And, yes, don't park your car on a pile of dry leaves or grass.

Q: I was told by a friend that having other keys on your car key ring is not a good idea, that the weight of them causes a problem. What is your learned opinion on this?

- J.M., Chicago
A: Over the years, we have seen plenty of ignition switches damaged by the weight of a key ring weighing nearly as much as an anvil. A few keys are fine, but flashlights, charms, and handcuffs are too much. Ditto for that huge teddy bear you won at the carnival. As more carmakers move to push-button start, this may be a problem of the past.

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