In a 30-mile-per-hour crash, what force does an unbuckled child experience?

In a collision at 30 miles per hour, an unbuckled child experiences a significant force due to the sudden stop that occurs upon impact. This can be equated to the impact of falling from a height, which helps illustrate just how dangerous unrestrained travel can be.

The scenario compared to falling from a third-story window accurately reflects the severity of the forces involved. When a body is subjected to such an abrupt stop, the deceleration mimics the kind of force that would be experienced from that height, where the impact upon landing could lead to severe injuries or even fatal consequences.

The analogy relates to how the distance fallen correlates with the impact force experienced. The dynamics of a vehicle crash and the corresponding fall simulate the same principles of physics, such as gravity and acceleration. Thus, the equivalency to a third-story fall emphasizes the critical importance of buckling up, particularly for children, to ensure their safety during a car ride.

Understanding these dynamics is vital for recognizing the importance of seat belts and child restraints, as they are designed to mitigate such potentially lethal forces during an accident.