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:

    Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
    The Antilock Brake System (ABS) light comes on briefly when the engine is started. If the light does not come on, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer. If the ABS light comes on and stays on w ...

    Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) Tones
    The in-vehicle Bluetooth system can send numbers and numbers stored as name tags during a call. This is used when calling a menu driven phone system. Account numbers can be programmed into the ...

    Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire
    Take off the wheel cover or center cap, if the vehicle has one, to reach the wheel bolts. 1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat  for more information. 2. Turn the wh ...