I'vealways wondered if it's illegal in Germany to have a large dog loose
inside the vehicle when driving.
Anything of course ...engines back there being hauled ...transmissions ..
anything with any heft is a possible lethal hazard.
   Somehow though ...we don't read about many deaths from loose objects
inside the vehicle ..
and for sure I'd say the common motorist never gives it a thought ..
like say a medium size dog on the dash board of a big RV , lol.

On 12/17/2012 8:09 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
> On Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 5:36 PM, Robert Stevens <mtbiker62@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>> Several extinguishers are great but might be a hazard in a crash if
>>> mounted behind legs/feet with typical extinguisher mounts. Behind the
>> seat
>>> pedestals should much better.
>>>
>     Extinguishers are a proven hazard if they aren't mounted securely.   Now
> in a Vanagon, there are often a lot of other potential 'loose
> objects'....at least in many of the vans I see.   People simply do not
> think about stuff 'flying around' inside as much as they really should.   I
> know I take chances (understatement) in my vanagon  when I often use it as
> a work vehicle (to make my fuel costs not exceed my earnings (Ha!) in the
> housing trade) and carry tools around.......But in case of a freeway or
> highway speed rollover or other high speed accident....loose items inside
> the vehicle DO become lethal....  I would probably be in serious trouble in
> the event of a rollover in my van with my work stuff aboard.
>
> One of the cardinal rules of High Performance driving events and races is
> that nothing loose or potentially loose is ever ever allowed inside a
> vehicle.   In one of our first participations in those Open Road high speed
> events, a driver in a Mercedes small sedan went off the course and rolled.
> He was killed by his fire extinguisher, which came loose and hit him in the
> back during multiple rolls at about 130mph.  His helmet was also cracked,
> but he died from an internal injury caused by the flying fire bottle...His
> mount was improperly installed...
>
>     Those inexpensive household extinguisher mounts, plastic or a wall
> hook/bracket with some kinda tear away strap?...Not safe for use in a
> moving vehicle.    There are inexpensive but secure, quick release
> vehicle-specific mounts that are appropriate...
>
>     Think about that, next time you toss your 50lb tool box or a hydraulic
> jack behind the rear bench and fly off down the interstate....
>
> .Next time you see a clothes dryer in operation....imagine yourself as
> firmly mounted inside (like with your seatbelt in your van) while
> everything that is loose behaves like all those clothes...Not a pleasant
> thought, contemplating a rollover accident, but they do happen and if you
> can minimize flying objects inside in case it does happen....you should do.
>
>    Don Hanson
>