Lanyard Safety for Drivers

Police are warning drivers about the dangers of wearing lanyards around their necks when driving. In certain collisions, the force of an airbag deploying can press a lanyard and attached ID badge or keys into the driver’s chest or abdomen, exacerbating injuries and, in rare cases, causing life-threatening trauma.

Reported Incidents

Recent cases include:

• Lung Collapse: The airbag deployment forced an ID badge backward, collapsing the driver’s lung.
• Abdominal Perforation: A driver carrying keys on a lanyard suffered bowel perforation when the keys were driven into their abdomen by the airbag.

Key Safety Recommendations

Although these accidents are uncommon, all employees should be aware of the risk and take simple precautions to reduce it:

• Remove lanyards or staff passes before you start driving.
• Where possible, use breakaway lanyards that unclip under tension, preventing them from becoming a dangerous projectile.

Additional Resources

For more on protecting yourself and your team, refer to our detailed guide on Lanyard Safety for Drivers.