You’ve probably been told from a young age that you should always wear a seat belt whenever you’re in a vehicle. In fact, you’ve probably been told to buckle up so often that you do it without a second thought as to why it’s so important. Almost every state has a seat-belt law, although the rules can vary. For example, North Carolina requires all passengers in a vehicle to be buckled-up, while other states do not require adults to buckle-up in the back seat.
Simply put, a seat belt is an essential safety device that could save your life in a crash. Let’s take a look at how they protect you and why you’ve been told to always wear one.
Keeping You Safely in Place
A seat belt’s primary function is to keep you from being ejected from a vehicle or colliding with its interior during a crash. Even though a vehicle comes to a sudden stop when it hits something or the brakes are applied suddenly, your body keeps moving forward. If there’s nothing to stop you from moving, you could be thrown from your seat and slam into the vehicle’s interior. If your vehicle was moving fast enough, you could even be thrown through the windshield and suffer serious or even fatal injuries. Wearing a seat belt properly keeps you in your seat and allows you to “ride down” the crash, which greatly increases your chances of survival.
Spreading Crash Forces Across Your Body
A seat belt will also help spread crash forces across the bony parts of your body, such as your shoulders, rib cage, and pelvis. These parts are better able to withstand the force of a crash. Feeling a strap across your shoulders may be uncomfortable sometimes, but it is the safest location for your seat belt in case of an accident.
Wearing a Seat Belt Properly
Wearing a seat belt is the single most effective way to protect yourself in a crash, but you need to do so correctly. Always wear your lap belt securely around your waist and your shoulder belt across your chest. Do not move your shoulder belt under your arms. Not only will it fail to protect you during a crash, but it could also result in a more serious injury.
It’s important that your seat belt fits properly. If it doesn’t fit, contact your vehicle manufacturer about installing seat belt adjusters or extenders. If you have an older vehicle that only has lap belts, you may be able to retrofit it with shoulder belts. Again, contact your vehicle’s manufacturer to see if this is a viable option.
Wearing a seat belt is by far the best way to stay safe when inside a vehicle. Almost 50 percent of drivers who were killed in car crashes in 2023 were unbuckled, so it really is a matter of life or death. Whether you’re only making a short trip to the grocery store or sitting in a passenger’s seat during a long road trip, don’t forget to buckle up as soon as you enter a vehicle.