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 seat on

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. The rider

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In

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:

    Fuels in Foreign Countries
    If you plan on driving in another country outside the United States or Canada, the proper fuel might be hard to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not recommended in the previous ...

    Cleaning the Center Stack
    Cleaning the Display Notice: Using abrasive cleaners when cleaning glass surfaces could scratch the glass. Use only a soft cloth and do not spray cleaner directly on the system as it could affect ...

    Safety Belts
    This section of the manual describes how to use safety belts properly. It also describes some things not to do with safety belts. WARNING! Do not let anyone ride where a safety belt cannot b ...