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SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
78J01-03E
strongest bones take the forces. That is
why safety belts make such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Question:
Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a
crush if I am wearing a safety belt?
Answer:
You could be – whether you are wearing a
safety belt or not. But your chance of being
conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much
greater if you are belted. And you can
unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are
upside down.
Question:
If my vehicle has airbags, why should I
have to wear safety belts?
Answer:
Airbags are supplemental systems only; so
they work with safety belts – not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag is pro-
vided, all occupants still have to buckle up
to get the most protection. That is true not
only in frontal collisions, but especially in
side and other collisions.
Question:
If I am a good driver, and I never drive
far from home, why should I wear safety
belts?
Answer:
You may be an excellent driver, but if you
are in a crush – even one that is not your
fault – you and your passenger(s) can be
hurt. Being a good driver does not protect
you from things beyond your control, such
as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40
km) of home. And the greatest number of
serious injuries and deaths occur at
speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This section is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to
know about safety belts and children. And
there are different rules for smaller children
and babies. If a child will be riding in your
vehicle, refer to “Older Children” or “Infants
and Young Children” in this section. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
It is very important for all occupants to
buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted
people are hurt more often in crashes than
those who are wearing safety belts.
Occupants who are not buckled up can be
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And
they can strike others in the vehicle who
are wearing safety belts.
First, before you or your passenger(s)
wear a safety belt, there is important infor-
mation you should know.
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Sit up straight and always keep your feet
on the floor in front of you. The lap part of
the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a
crash, this applies force to the strong pel-
vic bones and you would be less likely to
slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it,
the belt would apply force on your abdo-
men. This could cause serious or even
fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest.
These parts of the body are best able to
take belt restraining forces.
The shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden
stop or crash.
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