|
I think that spot was originally intended for a first aid kit and sometimes a fire extinguisher as well. Since the United States does not require those pieces of safety equipment by law, very few cars sold in the US come with either item.
Sometimes the fire extinguisher may be mounted on a bracket on the lower front edge of the first row passenger seat
That someone had the brilliant idea of excluding the net on north american models that is supposed to hold the first aid kit in place, they saved $1/ car in manufacturing cost. With enough sales in north america that paid for the salary of one MBA financial wizard who came up with that profit enhancing scheme.
IDK, it seems pretty short-sighted for the US to be one of the few holdouts in the world that does not require safety equipment. Some legacy of big US auto makers back in the 50's and 60's who must of complained about it adding complexity and cutting in to profits.
IMHO, every car should have a trauma kit (different contents than a first aid kit that only has little bandages for when you stub your toe), flashlight, fire extinguisher and safety triangle.
For a good example of a trauma kit look at what soldiers carry (meant for major injuries, amputations, spurting blood, really horrible burns). They are dressings (that go right on the wound) and not bandages (that hold dressings in place and make them pretty). Just sticking a triangle bandage, half a dozen little finger bandages and a packet of ibuprofen is pretty useless in those crucial moments after a bad car accident. Trauma kits are not complicated and not expensive (I was a paramedic for 8 years). We only had to keep the PT stable until we could get them to a hospital. If you roll-up on a car accident or have one yourself then you are dealing with the major life-saving activities (airway, breathing, circulation (ABC)) and not if you have poison ivy on your knee.
|