Umbrellas, cell phones, cups, and golf balls all could be lethal weapons! It’s one thing to buckle up the kids in their car seats, but what about the family dog and all those items that find their way to the back seat floor?

In a head on collision, traveling at just 35 mile per hour, a one pound article that is loose in your car will continue traveling at that speed until striking someone or something with nearly 100 pounds of force. That impact can easily break bones and cause serious injury.

The sport utility, minivan, and station wagon have all become very popular. Unfortunately these vehicles all lack a standard cargo containment area. Most owners simply place every manner of item into the open cargo area, creating a significant hazard in the event of a collision. In one SUV accident, a mother was hauling boxes of books weighing several hundred pounds. At the point of impact, the books rocketed forward with thousands of pounds of force. It broke both back seat supports and the child in the back seat was thrown into the rear of the front seat. the child died.

Simply securing the cargo and keeping your car clean could have saved lives.