New Child Safety Seat Belt Safety

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Seat Belt Safety

Seat belt safety is one aspect of road safety that should be taken very seriously, yet it is often ignored by many drivers. The main reason for this is that your safety belt habits are formed fast, so you can get used to hopping into your car and forgetting to buckle up as quickly as you can demand that all passengers be secured before you even start the car. It is up to you to choose which to practice and of course we advocate the BUCKLE UP RULE EACH AND EVERY TIME.

Every passenger must be properly secured in their seat belt. Different countries and even within countries such as individual states have different age regulations; some say that all passengers below 16 years must wear safety belts, while others require that every passenger regardless of age must have their seat safety belts on. For the sake of car (road) safety insist that all passengers buckle up regardless of specific laws because injuries in car accidents can and do occur.

Wear your safety belt properly. A safety belt worn incorrectly is often more dangerous than no safety belt at all. This is because you can sustain more injuries such as cracked ribs and strangulation if your seat belt is touching your neck or tucked under your armpit. It is especially dangerous for children without booster seats since the adult safety belt will be inadequate for their body size. Seat belt safety depends wholly on using the equipment properly.

Use safety belts even when your car has airbags. Do not assume that a deployed airbag will reduce your injuries in a collision without your safety belt. The force of an air bag has been known to cause injury to the passenger, but the impact of the injury is reduced by wearing the safety belt to keep you firmly held in your seat during a collision. Air bags and safety belts therefore work together.

Adult passengers are responsible for wearing their own safety belt. If a police officer pulls you over and your passengers are not secured in the vehicle, the passengers themselves can be charged with a fine for not wearing the belts. In addition, some areas also fine the driver, especially if passengers are under the age of majority. In other words, as the driver you are responsible for seat belt safety by law to make sure your passengers buckle up. No matter what the law states, as the driver you are responsible for your own car safety and the rules that all passengers must follow while traveling with you.

Conduct routine checks on your safety belts and child harnesses. Look out for frays, loose buckles or difficulty in using the belt, such as if the buckle gets stuck or pulling the belt becomes difficult and does not work as smoothly as required. These faults should be corrected as soon as they are found. It is better to fix your safety belt, which costs little, than to have a collision with a seat belt you knew was not working properly. This can cost you or a passenger a life so routinely check and fix immediately.

Expectant women are not exempted from wearing their seat belts. Some women fear that wearing their seat belts during pregnancy can hurt their unborn child. This is not true because when worn correctly, a safety belt can protect your belly during an accident. Ensure that the lap belt is worn below the belly to secure the hip area, and that the shoulder belt is worn across the chest to prevent forward movement in an accident.

Incorporate all the above for optimum safety belt safety while you're driving. These tips will keep you and your family safe and establish excellent life long car (road) safety habits for every one.