A workplace security specialist is advising drivers to remove a commonly worn accessory before getting into their cars to reduce the risk of injury in a collision. Adam Bennett, workplace security expert at Digital ID, told reporters that lanyards — typically worn around the neck to display identification details, security passes, and keys — should be taken off before starting a journey, particularly when driving home from work.

"While any delay on the way home from work is less than ideal," he said, "in this instance, taking a few seconds to remove your lanyard before you start driving could actually help you avoid serious injury."

The Danger of Lanyards in the Car

According to Bennett, police have reported cases where even minor traffic collisions have caused more severe injuries because passengers were wearing lanyards. He explained that during a collision, an airbag deploying can push the lanyard and attached items—like keys—into the body, potentially causing a collapsed lung or perforated bowels. "Issues such as collapsed lungs or perforated bowels have been caused as a result of an airbag driving a lanyard and items attached like keys into the body of a passenger during a collision," he said. "And injuries like these can often leave people hospitalised for a couple of weeks."

The warning applies not only to drivers but also to passengers, as the reports Bennett referenced include cases where passengers were affected.

A security reminder Beyond the Car

Bennett also advises removing lanyards once you leave the workplace building, not just for safety in the car but also for business security. He stressed the importance of taking the lanyard off immediately after exiting the building, as cloned identification is one of the easiest ways for someone with bad intent to gain access to a workplace. "It's even more important that you remove your lanyard immediately after leaving the building," he said. "Cloned identification is one of the easiest ways for a bad-faith actor to gain access to your workplace."

Wearing a lanyard around the workplace provides more opportunities for someone to clone it, he added.

What Workers Say

Discussions online have also raised the issue. A Reddit user asked why people wear their work lanyards on their commute, and some replies indicated that employers instruct staff not to wear them, particularly when using public transport. Some firms have concerns about a poor public image and the possibility that employees could be targeted or attacked for working at certain companies.