Don’t keep this household item on your dash
This everyday household item has been designed to wipe away tears but misuse it while driving, and you might end up crying with regret that you brought it along for the ride.
The humble tissue box. Don’t be fooled by its soft innocence; placing this deceiving cardboard box in the wrong spot in your car, like on your dashboard, can be distracting and, in some cases, dangerous.
Why you shouldn’t store it on your dash
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says your stash of tissues has probably come in handy as hay fever season is well and truly here but placing the box on your dash for easy access isn’t the safest idea. Here’s why.
“Passenger-side airbags often deploy from the top of the dashboard,” Charles explains. “So, anything sitting on the dash can be launched toward the windshield or occupants when the airbag fires.”
Tip: look for ‘SRS’ or ‘AIRBAG’ markings on the dash to see where your airbags deploy.
Thankfully, tissue boxes are lightweight but may still inflict a cut to the driver or passengers under heavy braking, particularly when located on the rear parcel shelf as heavy braking can cause objects to fly forward.
When positioned on the dash, any movement behind the wheel, like braking or turning a corner, can cause a tissue box or any other object, such as a phone, to slide off and lodge in an inaccessible location, such as between the seats.
“This can also be distracting, taking your attention away from the road at the very time when it’s most needed,” Charles says.
POLL: Where do you store your tissue box?
If caught in the unfortunate situation of being distracted by a tissue box you can’t tame, you could be fined for driving without proper control of the vehicle. The penalty (a $236 fine and $108 Victims of Crime Levy) might be enough to make you cry, but keeping the tissue box off your dash is still the safest option.
“Loose items on the dashboard can slide, bounce, or fly through the cabin, potentially hitting passengers or interfering with visibility and control,” Charles says.
“Anything that ends up near the pedals is a real problem so it’s important to always try to minimise any potential distractions while driving.
“For this reason, do not put items under the driver’s seat that can roll forward and lodge under the pedals, restricting pedal movement in heavy braking.”
Where should you store it?
Consider downsizing from a box to a small travel pack of tissues (or several) that you can neatly store in the glovebox, centre console or even a door pocket – out of sight but within reaching distance if you need them.
Did you know there are other everyday items that can be hazardous while driving? We’ve listed a few more here.