Find Out How Seatbelts Work and Keep You Safe

Ever since people started driving, the question has arisen about how to keep passengers safe during an accident. The first method was simply having the driver brace themselves with their arm against the steering wheel.

However, this alone was not enough to save lives in an accident. So, automakers began exploring other options. As a result, seatbelts were created.

Are you curious to learn how seatbelts work? If so, continue reading below.

Why Seatbelts Are Important?

When driving, you are surrounded by three different types of forces: the downward force of gravity, the upwards force from road bumps, and the forward or backward force from sudden stops or crashes. Without a seat belt, these forces would all pull you in different directions at once.

Seat belts counteract these forces by pulling on your upper body in the direction of the force. Your body ‘absorbs’ this force by compressing your chest, stomach and pelvis. These are areas strong enough to withstand large forces.

While wearing a seatbelt does not eliminate any risk of injury, it greatly reduces injuries by keeping you in place while an accident occurs. It minimizes the likelihood of being thrown from the car.

It also decreases the chance of head-on collisions and stops you from smashing into the steering wheel, windshield, or dashboard.

All vehicles are required to have seatbelts. This is not only because it increases safety for passengers, but also because it provides legal protection in court cases should someone be injured during an accident that involved the car.

The Different Types of Seatbelts

However, not all seatbelts are equal. There are five main types of seat belts used in cars today, which are the following:

• Two-point lap belt
• Three-point lap belt
• Three-point shoulder belt
• Lap/shoulder belt with airbag
• Retractable seat belt

The commonality between them is that they all must fit the average size passenger to work safely.

In a two-point lap belt, there is one strap that connects into the buckle on your left side. The other end of the strap runs straight across your upper thighs and buckles on your right upper thigh.

A three-point seatbelt has two straps. One strap goes over the shoulder, rather than the waist. The second strap goes around your waist and is fastened with a buckle.

The retractable seat belt is made up of two different parts. There is the shoulder belt and a smaller lap belt that both retract into the car’s ceiling when not in use.

If you drive a commercial vehicle, read more here about how commercial accidents are different.

Driving Safety: How Seatbelts Work

Seatbelts are an important safety feature in cars, and it’s crucial to wear them every time you get behind the wheel. We hope this article helped you understand more about how seatbelts work and why it’s so important to use them.

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