Some things never go out of style: your seatbelt is one of them. Regardless of the vehicle you’re traveling in, whether you’re in the front or back seat, and whether you’re driving in town or the country, always buckle up!
You probably know this, but it bears repeating: Seatbelts massively reduce your chance of death and serious injury. They keep you in your seat if there’s a sudden stop or a collision, and spread the force of impact across the strongest parts of your body.
They also stop you from being thrown out of the vehicle – because if you go flying, you’re much more likely to be seriously hurt or killed.
And by keeping all the occupants of a vehicle in place, they stop you from colliding with others inside the car, which can also be fatal.
Some people rely on their vehicle’s airbags to keep them safe. But the seatbelt works is designed to work with the airbag (and vice-versa). It’s supposed to keep you in the best spot for the airbag to provide maximum protection. (Airbags can also cause injuries, especially if you’re not where you’re supposed to be when they go off).
There is plenty of evidence to show that seatbelts save lives, which is why they’re mandatory in so many parts of the world. In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that using seat belts reduces the risk of:
-Front seat passenger car occupant deaths by 45%
-Front seat passenger car occupant moderate to critical injuries by 50%
-Front seat light truck occupant deaths by 60%
-Front seat light truck occupant moderate to critical injuries by 65%
Those are huge percentages.
That’s why we recently joined the "Commitment to Road Safety" campaign, an initiative promoted by the Touring and Automobile Club of Peru that promotes mandatory seat belt use not only among drivers, but also among all vehicle occupants, including rear-seat passengers.
But this is an issue around the world, not only in Peru – hence this quick reminder.
You never know when something will go wrong, so wear your seat belt every time.
Stay safe!
