Today’s vehicles have numerous safety devices: anti-lock brake systems (ABS), seat belts, air bags, electronic stability control, traction control, adaptive cruise control, and collision warning devices. But one of the least technological devices that you should also pay attention to is your driver’s side floor mat. Did you know that a driver’s side floor mat that doesn’t fit correctly can cause a deadly situation? Read this article on how an off-duty highway patrol officer and three members of his family were killed. Floor mats, not some advanced technological device, caused Toyota Motor Company’s largest recall to date – 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Read the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) summary.
What should you do? If you have a Toyota or Lexus within the recall range follow the recommendations from the NHTSA and Toyota. For everyone else, check your driver’s floor mat too. Make sure it properly fits the vehicle and is secured using specially designed floor anchors.