The dashboard inside an automobile can be simple or ornate. Show cars and some race cars have customized dashboards made of sheet metal. Chrome dashboards are often seen in show cars. A dashboard might be home to a basic instrument panel or one with state-of-the-art technology, such as a GPS system and multi-disc CD changer. Dashboards have changed a great deal since the term was first coined, back in the days of horse-drawn buggies.
The word "dashboard" was heard as far back as the early 1600s, long before motor-powered automobiles ever hit the road. The word was originally used to describe the piece of wood or other material found in the front of a horse-drawn buggy. This board was used to protect occupants from dashing. The English language-meaning of the word "dash" at that point was "to break into pieces" or "to smash into violently." The dashboard protected anyone driving or riding in the buggy from being harmed by dirt, rocks, ice and any other objects horses might kick up as they trotted over the ground.
The dashboard of an automobile serves several functions. It is the unit to which the steering column is attached. Dashboards hold the instrument panel of an automobile, including gauges and warning signals. Warning signals on the dashboard help the driver ascertain if a component of the car is malfunctioning or if she should pull off to the side of the road to check her automobile. The front of a dashboard holds the audio system, air-conditioning/heat vents and other accessories. Dashboards also hold airbags, which help to save lives if a car is involved in a collision. Some dashboards also feature padding that helps reduce the risk of injury if someone in the car hits his had on the dash during an accident.
The instrument panel on a car's dashboard allows the driver to view the speedometer, odometer and (in some vehicles) tachometer. Warning lights and gauges (including the "check engine" light, check oil light and gas gauge) are located on the instrument panel of a car's dashboard. Some automobiles now offer GPS and other navigation systems that are typically located on the dashboard. Satellite radios and other advanced audio systems (including CD changers) are often attached to the dashboard as well.
Many dashboards are made of plastic, especially in economy- and moderately priced automobiles. Some luxury vehicles offer dashboards that are made of leather. Race cars that are large enough to have a full dashboard typically use metal in their construction. Race cars and vehicles that are customized by automobile enthusiasts often sport chrome dials and gauges, to add to the aesthetics of the vehicle.
Your dashboard might not offer as much peace of mind as you might think. The airbag or airbags in your dashboard could be defective. If your car was ever in an accident, it is possible that the garage did not replace the airbag, but rather stuffed the compartment with other materials or placed a used airbag in the airbag compartment. This poses a danger if you are ever involved in an automobile accident and find out too late that you have an airbag that will not deploy properly--or at all.
