It’s easy to take seat belt innovations for granted, but these tools can dramatically improve your chances of survival in a crash. Ensure yours is in good working order by regularly inspecting the webbing and buckle.
Encourage your children to do the same and be positive role models by buckling up before moving the car. Brain and spinal cord injuries can be deadly, regardless of how minor they seem at the time.
Protects You and Your Passengers
Seat belts keep drivers and passengers firmly in their seats during an accident, reducing fatality risks by protecting against head and body trauma. They also prevent occupants from becoming projectiles during crashes and protect them against whiplash injuries.
When seat belts are worn correctly, they distribute crash forces across the more substantial bony parts of the body, such as the shoulders and rib cage. They also keep occupants from being ejected from vehicles, associated with a significantly higher risk of death and injury.
In addition, seat belts reduce the likelihood of a vehicle rollover and help occupants remain in their seats during sudden braking or sharp swerving. Without seat belts, a front-seat occupant could be thrown forward against the dashboard or windshield and struck by fast-moving objects in the cabin, such as luggage or airbags.
Drivers and passengers in the Southeast are less likely to wear seat belts, contributing to the region’s higher car accident death rate than other parts of the country. To get them to buckle up, states must crack down on non-compliance. Studies have found that hefty fines can encourage seat belt use by increasing perceived costs for violators. For example, doubling the price of an unbuckled ticket doubled seat belt usage in New York.
Helps You Slow Down
Seat belts help you avoid severe crash injuries by distributing the force over a vast torso region. The likelihood of death or severe injury can be cut in half when the seat belt is adequate.
Seat belt buckle replacement is immediately necessary if it isn’t operating correctly. If the seat belt latches in the buckles of other seats or the shoulder anchor isn’t locked, you could be thrown against the dashboard and injured. The good news is that seat belt buckles are surprisingly simple and easy to fix.
Start by examining the female part of the seat belt buckle – the part where the male part of the buckle goes in. Take a butter knife and insert it into the female part to see if there is any obstruction (like a coin). If there’s an object, remove it. If the buckle still doesn’t lock, continue to step 2.
Next, you must take the female part of the buckle off the side of the seat. Some buckles may only require unscrewing, while others need you to remove the seat. Once the female part is off, you should see the red push button and the mechanism inside – the springs and cam. Push the button to see if anything is blocking the springs’ path, and remove it if necessary.
Prevents Traumatic Brain Injuries
Seat belts prevent traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) by keeping drivers and passengers in their cars. When people are unrestrained, they can be thrown from vehicles during crashes, and being ejected from a car is almost always deadly. Even if they aren’t ejected, being thrown against the dashboard or windshield can injure the head and brain and break bones.
When people wear seat belts, the force of the impact is transferred to their chest and abdomen instead of their heads. The crash causes their bodies to stop suddenly, but the shoulder portion of the seat belt locks to prevent them from being pushed forward or backward, which could cause injuries to the neck and spine.
Studies have shown that when seat belts aren’t worn, the likelihood of severe TBI and other injuries increases dramatically. Surgical interventions, hospital admissions, and intensive care unit admissions are much higher for unrestrained victims of MVCs.
Many people don’t wear seat belts or ensure children are buckled up correctly despite the risks. Fastening a seat belt takes a few seconds, but it’s crucial to remember that your life and those you love depend on you doing it every time you get in a car. The risk is far too significant to ignore.
Prevents Spinal Cord Injuries
In a collision, a seat belt can stop a driver or passenger from being thrown from the car, which can result in severe spinal cord injuries. These wounds can potentially cause paralysis, loss of mobility, and other severe medical issues that can permanently alter the lives of victims.
Being thrown out of your car during a crash can be more deadly than the impact. It is because your body may hit other vehicles, road signs, fences, or structures at very high speeds, which can cause serious injuries. In addition, your head could strike the steering wheel or dashboard at a high speed. A defective seat belt buckle can also break during a crash, sending your spine through the windshield and into the side window.
Seat belts can also cause injuries to your chest and sternum. This type of blunt trauma can require immediate medical attention and a thorough evaluation by an experienced physician. Seat belts can also lacerate or cut your abdomen, leading to active bleeding or small bowel perforation.
Despite the many benefits of wearing your seat belt, some people still need them. The failure to wear seat belts affects everyone else through higher insurance premiums and increased medical costs. The Southeast has fewer states with “primary” safety belt laws, allowing officers to ticket drivers specifically for not wearing seat belts. It has contributed to the region’s 20 percent higher fatal crash rate than other parts of the nation.
