Seat belts must be worn all the time when driving. They work with airbags to save your life in the event of accidents.
Here’s the sad facts:
Seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%.
Seat belts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected during a crash. People not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash.
- 23,714 drivers and passengers died in motor vehicle crashes in 2016.
- More than half were not buckled up at the time of the crash.
- Costs – Non-fatal crash injuries to drivers and passengers resulted in more than $48 billion in lifetime medical and work loss costs in 2010.
Seat Belts Safety Tips
- Buckle up first, before driving or riding in a car whether sitting in the front or back.
- Wear the lap belt low across the hips, below the stomach.
- Wear the shoulder belt over the collarbone, away from the neck across the chest.
- A properly working seat belt will keep you a safe distance from the dashboard and airbag.
- Children should never sit in the front passenger seat until at least age 13.
- Secure all young children in child safety seats.
- If you’re pregnant, make sure the safety belt is snug against the hips.
Airbags
Airbags saves millions of lives and are standard in most cars now. Despite that they are lifesavers, they can be a danger, if not used properly. So, here’s a few points.
They are a supplemental safety device and function in tandem with seat belts and other safety precautions:
- Always Use Seat Belt without Exception
- Follow the Minimum Distance Rule – adults should sit at a minimum distance of 10 inches from the steering wheel.
- Don’t Keep the Back of the seat totally upright. Recline a little to ensure that you’re at a safe distance from the airbags.
- Seat Children under 12 in the rear – The impact of an extremely rapidly inflating airbag can be brutal on children if they are seated on the front seat.
- Adjust the Steering Wheel If there is an option
- Learn about Safety Features when buying a Car
Airbag safety
- Some vehicles offer an on-off switch that can control the airbag function.
- Side airbags are also available now in a lot of newer car models in case the collision involves impact on the sides.
- Adaptive front airbag systems are also an option.
- If you follow these rules, an airbag can protect you to best without causing potential injury.