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:

    Trip Odometer
    A trip odometer show how far the vehicle has been driven since the odometer was last set to zero. See Driver Information Center (DIC) for information on resetting the trip odometer. ...

    Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
    See Engine Compartment Overview for the location of the engine air cleaner/filter. ...

    Erasing Speed Memory
    The cruise control set speed memory is erased by turning off the cruise control or the ignition. ...