Safety Seat Belt
When it comes to basic safety equipment in a car, the first thing that comes to mind is the safety seatbelt. Your safety belt can restrain you during crashes to keep you from being ejected from your vehicle or from moving forward at a high velocity and injuring yourself. Many states have passed safety belt laws that require you to always wear your safety belt while riding or driving your vehicle. Even though many studies show safety belt use reduces fatalities, there are those who believe safety belts actually cause injuries. Learning all about the safety belt can help you make good choices when it comes to vehicle safety.
Comfort
Some people don't like to wear a safety seat belt because it is considered uncomfortable. The degree of comfort of a safety built will depend on your body's build and how the belt is made. People who are short often state that the shoulder safety belt cuts into their necks instead of restraining them across the chest. People who are tall also experience problems with using a safety belt. These belts don't hit them where they are supposed to, so their comfort level is reduced and the effectiveness of the safety belt may also come into question. People who are overweight may also experience a lot of discomfort when using a safety belt. Because a safety belt can only be adjusted slightly for safety reasons, the belt may be too tight on someone who is carrying extra weight on their frame.
Civil Liberties
Many people take issue with being required to a safety seat belt because they feel that they should be able to make their own choices about their safety. Despite their feelings, many states have made it a requirement that people in vehicles must wear a safety belt when the vehicle is being operated. The argument for these laws is that state resources such as ambulance services, law enforcement, and fire services are used to respond to and investigate auto accidents on state roads. Since wearing a safety belt has been shown to reduce fatalities and may prevent serious injuries, it is more cost-effective for states to respond to minor injury accidents than fatality accidents. Fatality accidents cause roads to be closed and affect other drivers, so wearing a safety belt is not a choice that affects just one person. It affects many people, which is why states have made safety belt laws.
Safety
Even though a number of studies have been done on safety belt use, many people feel that using a safety belt can actually cause injuries. In some cases, the force of the safety belt restraining a passenger has led to injuries such as broken ribs and bruising. In rare cases, the force of the safety belt has caused someone to break their neck. Even though these incidents can happen, you are still better off wearing your safety belt and preventing yourself from being thrown through the windshield or flying forward and hitting your head on the car's dashboard.
Improvements
There are some ways to use a safety belt correctly and improve your experience. Many companies make safety belt padding that can be added to the belts in your car. If you find that your safety belt cuts into your body and is very uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, you may want to try adding some cushion to the belt to protect your skin and keep you from experiencing discomfort. If your safety belt hasn't been adjusted since you bought your car, you may want to try lengthening or shortening the belt depending on the problem you are having. If you're taller than many people, you'll want to lengthen the belt so that it lies across your chest. If you find that the belt often cuts into your neck because you are shorter than most people, shorten the belt until it is more comfortable.
