Before leaving by car, Organize the trunk properly This is the key. Not only to make the most of the available space, but also as a way to provide for those who occupy the car and consume even less fuel and thus save money.
How to reduce consumption? First of all, carrying unnecessary items in the trunk. For every 100 pounds of extra weight, a medium-sized car Increase fuel tax by up to 6%According to the Royal Automobile Club of Spain (Racing).
It’s not just a matter of weight: an unorganized trunk can force you to place packages on a roof rack. More air resistance by a vehicle loaded on the roof can increase costs Up to 35%.
Even without load, only the roof rack causes gasoline or diesel to burn faster. In the event of a sharp rise in fuel prices, any measures that help reduce these costs are appropriate.
What criteria should be followed to organize the trunk?
To make sure you do not get anything you do not need, and also to make the most of the space, is a good first step Completely empty the luggage. This allows you to have a general idea of how many items – and what size – can be stored there.
Დa later, How to start? By what criteria should suitcases, bags and other items be observed there? Or Learning A few years ago, RACE and the Goodyear tire company found that 35% of drivers do this by the weight of their packages, while 25% do it by their size.
Another 25% do this by accessibility, i.e. putting on top of items that they think they will need before others. The remaining 15%, in turn, store luggage in the trunk Without any order or criteria.
In addition, one in five respondents acknowledges this Brought the car to the load limit, Or that he refused to wear more items because they no longer suited him. And 1.4% immediately admitted that they had traveled more than the maximum weight recommended for a car.
The more loads the car carries, the more difficult it becomes to drive. Any maneuver represents a bigger role and therefore a higher one Risk of loss of stability; Especially when the speed is high. Excess weight damages the braking system, suspension and stability control.
All this significantly increases the risk of accidents. However, according to the report, the majority of drivers Does not know or appreciate the problem: Only 14% admitted that traveling with extra luggage can be dangerous.
Practical tips for space use and safe travel
Then it is understandable that you should get only what is necessary and never exceed it Manufacturer weight limit (Limit that can be seen in the car manual or on the ITV technical sheet). But other than that, how do we put things in the trunk? Here are some tips from RACE.
1. Watch this The center of gravity is as low as possible. In other words, the heaviest packages should be placed first, and the smaller, lighter ones on top. In addition, it should be as heavy as possible in front (i.e. as close as possible to the seats or to the fixed surface of the car).
2. Insert your suitcases Wheels upTo prevent them from facilitating their final movement.
3. Protect suitcases and other packages Fastening points with ropes, hooks or nets. In some cases, these gadgets are included with the car as standard. If not, there are “universal” models that adapt to the most diverse panties.
4. Use small objects like a The way to catch the big one. That is, think of the trunk as a “Tetris” whose main purpose is not to create a free gap between some packages and others. You can also use a “double bottom”, a hole where the spare wheel goes and which often allows you to store other items.
5. Cover fragile items, Such as glass, blankets, sheets of plastic or other similar materials. Not only to protect them, but also in case of breakage due to a collision, so as not to shoot them like sharp shells.
6. Place, if possible, a The dividing grid between the trunk and the passenger compartment car’s. This device prevents items from reaching the car passengers in the event of an accident. For the same purpose it is recommended to fasten the rear belt, even when no one is sitting in them.
7. Carrying in the upper part of the trunk a A backpack or small bag with essentials: Food, drink, documentation, items that may be needed for children traveling with them, etc. Avoid carrying loose items in the passenger compartment.
Other tips for luggage outside the trunk
The indication of not carrying loose items in the passenger compartment of the car is related to the risk that they will become in the event of an accident. If the car crashes while traveling at 60 kilometers per hour (relatively low speed), inertia Multiply by 56 Weight of transported objects.
This means that only a suitcase weighing ten kilograms is leaning forward A force equal to the weight of a bull, Racing schedule. It is therefore advisable to avoid loose items (neither on the seats, nor in the rear window, nor anywhere else): anyone can become a dangerous shell.
The trunk, of course, must be properly closed. If you have to carry more items than can fit in it, you will need to apply a Closed and aerodynamic hood Designed specifically for car roofs. Of course, no part of the luggage should interfere with the driver’s vision.
For the rest, the advice is to devote to organizing the trunk All the necessary time: That haste does not lead to non-compliance with some of the above safety measures.
And then during the trip, Adapting driving style to car weight. At all times we must not forget that high load increases the risks and therefore it is necessary to adapt the speed to these conditions.
Source: El Diario
