Why is seat belt use important

Belt adjusters exist for those who need a better fit. Pregnant women must wat seat belts, even if it feels uncomfortable. The belt lays across the hops, not the stomach.

Child seats: Have your local fire department or car dealership check to ensure the car seat is fitted correctly. November 11, Blog.

Seat belts spread out the force of a collision: Using a lap and shoulder belt helps spread the force of a crash over a wide area of the body, putting less stress on any one area.

This can allow one to avoid serious injury. Additionally, a shoulder strap will keep your head and upper body away from the dashboard, steering wheel, and other interior parts of the vehicle that you might otherwise hit if you were either hit by another vehicle or have to suddenly hit the brakes.

Helps the body to slow down: Oftentimes, an abrupt change in speed is what leads to an injury. Seat belts extend the time it takes for you to slow down in a crash. If you are not buckled up, you could end up hitting the dashboard or side window, depending on the nature of the crash. It protects your brain and spinal cord: Seat belts are designed to protect these two critical and vulnerable areas.

If you were to hit your head in a crash, it is likely you will suffer a traumatic brain injury. YES —doctors recommend it. Buckling up through all stages of your pregnancy is the single most effective action you can take to protect yourself and your unborn child in a crash. NEVER drive or ride in a car without buckling up first! The shoulder belt away from your neck but not off your shoulder and across your chest between your breasts , making sure to remove any slack from your seat belt with the lap belt secured below your belly so that it fits snugly across your hips and pelvic bone.

NEVER place the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back. NEVER place lap belt over or on top of your belly. Should I Adjust My Seat? YES —Adjust to a comfortable, upright position Keep as much distance as possible between your belly and the steering wheel Comfortably reach the steering wheel and pedals To minimize the gap between your shoulder and the seat belt, avoid reclining your seat more than necessary.

Avoid letting your belly touch the steering wheel. You still need to wear your seat belt properly. Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them. Without a seat belt, you could crash into the vehicle interior, other passengers, or be ejected from the vehicle. Should I turn it off?

NO —Doctors recommend that pregnant women wear seat belts and leave air bags turned on. Seat belts and air bags work together to provide the best protection for you and your unborn child. Myth vs. The Real Deal There are many myths surrounding seat belt safety. See if you can distinguish the myths from the real deal by correctly answering the questions below. If your car has air bags you still need to wear a seat belt. Myth or Real Deal?

Seat belts can trap you in a fire or under water. If you're not going far or not traveling fast, seat belts are unnecessary. Your seat belt can hurt you in a crash. It's not as essential for guys to wear seat belts; they are the least at risk. Remember to buckle up every trip, every time! Use this quiz to test your seat belt IQ.

True or False: Every State has at least some kind of seat belt law. Far too many Americans die in crashes every year. Do you know how many unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants died in ? Is it best to use your seat belt on long trips or short trips?

Tell us whether you accept cookies We use cookies to collect information about how you use this site. Accept all cookies. Set cookie preferences. Home Blog Cars. Wearing a seat belt: the rules When I was growing up admittedly a long time ago! A click in time … Who is not wearing a seat belt?

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