Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.

Put someone on it.

Put someone on it.

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle.

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle.

The rider does not stop.

The person keeps going until stopped by

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...

or the instrument panel...

or the instrument panel...

or the safety belts!

or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense.

    See also:

    Delayed Entry Lighting
    The interior lamps will turn on if you open the door when it is dark enough outside. When you close the door with the ignition off, the interior lamps will stay on for up to 25 seconds or until ...

    Manual Rearview Mirror
    To adjust the inside rearview mirror, hold the rearview mirror in the center and move it to view the area behind the vehicle. For vehicles with a manual rearview mirror, push the tab forward for da ...

    Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
    Q: Is there anything I might add to the front or sides of the vehicle that could keep the airbags from working properly? A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s frame, bumper system ...