DVD player safety guide for your car

Digital Versatile Discs, or DVDs as they are more commonly known, have quickly become an entertainment revolution since their inception in 1996. The discs are able to store a range of data including audio and visual, but have mainly become associated with movies. It is for this reason that DVDs are a boon to parents who want to keep bored children occupied during long car journeys.

DVD safety issues and your car

It may seem unlikely but there are a number of safety issues associated with playing DVDs in your car, including:

• The actual DVD player must be properly secured
• If it is not properly secured it can move around the cabin in an accident, causing injury
• Peripherals such as DVD cases must also be secured
• They can also cause injury in an accident
• Although it may seem unlikely, even seemingly small and light objects such as cases can injure and kill
• In a car crash the impact speed of objects moving around the cabin will be dependant on the crash speed
• Ensure the DVD player is secured as per the manufacturer’s specifications
• DVD players built into the rear of the head rests or ceiling of the cabin are safest
• Make sure all DVD cases and any lose objects are secured in a place where they can not move around in any situation
• Another issue is driver distraction
• Any distraction to the driver can impact upon reaction times and must be minismised
• DVDs should not be viewable by the driver, even from their peripheral vision
• Sound from DVDs should also be minimised

There are a range of factors that contribute towards safety when using a DVD player in a car and you must take all of them into account.

Safety, DVD players and your car

A DVD player can be a positive boon for parents who want to drive a distance that children may find otherwise boring and difficult to cope with. Parents should be aware that children naturally have different attention spans and less developed coping mechanisms. For these reasons a DVD can be a great way to keep them entertained if you want to do a long drive. But always ensure the DVD player is properly installed as per the manufacturer’s specifications, and that all peripherals such as DVD cases are properly secured. In an accident even small items can move very quickly and cause injury and even death. Do the right thing and you will enjoy pleasant and safe driving.