There’s a reason your vehicle has seat belts—to save your life in case of an accident. Seat belts are an important safety feature, which is why wearing them while on a moving vehicle is required. If you’re caught without a seat belt on, you can get penalized. But even if the law doesn’t say so, wearing a seat belt is one of the most basic ways you can protect yourself on the road.
If you’re curious how these belts can save a life, read more below:
The Facts
Seat belts can reduce the risk of sustaining an injury significantly. In fact, it can even help prevent death in the event of a car accident.
Statistics prove that seat belts can save lives. For one, if you’re in the front seat and you get into an accident, a seat belt can decrease your risk of getting a fatal injury by 45%. Additionally, it will reduce your risk of sustaining moderate to critical injuries by 50%.
Even though most Americans wear their seat belts when on a vehicle, there are still some who don’t. It’s easy to think that the small number of people who don’t wear their seat belts don’t get into any serious injuries, but the reality is, these people who fail to wear their seat belts make up 48% of car accidents casualties.
How Seat Belts Save Lives
When you’re in a vehicle, your body moves at the same speed as the car. Therefore, a car accident may stop your vehicle, but your body is still in a forward momentum. So, imagine if you don’t have a seat belt on! The chances of you flying through the windshield are high.
With a seat belt, there’s something stable and firm that holds your body in place, especially in a car accident. Modern seat belts are in the shape of the letter “y”, and feature a three-point system. The three-point system combines the two versions of the seat belt—lap and sash belts.
Lap belts are most common in airplanes, but they can’t support car passengers alone because it only disperses the body’s momentum in that particular area. Therefore, there needs to be more protection for the spine and waist; hence, a three-point system.
With the sash belt, it will help keep your upper body in place. Imagine if you only have the lap belt—the chances of you sliding underneath it are high when you get into a car accident.
The three-point system ensures the body disperses its momentum into the chest, shoulders, and pelvis. Sure, this could leave you bruised, but at least it would keep you in your seat.
Here are some of the ways a seat belt protects you:
- Your body stays inside the car during an accident
- You avoid colliding with the parts in front of you, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, and windshield
- The seat belts help de-accelerate your body
- The seat belts ensure the force is dispersed evenly on your body
Conclusion
If you have a habit of not wearing your seat belt, or if you know someone who does, it’s time to get rid of that habit. You never know what can happen on the road, so make sure you’re safe at all times.
Do you need seat belt repair? We can help you here at Safety Restore. We are leaders in post-accident restorations, and we specialize in seat belt repairs and airbag modules. Contact us today!
