Questions and Answers AboutSafety BeltsQ: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accidentif I am wearing a safety belt?A: Youcould be — whether you are wearing a safetybelt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,even if you are upside down. And your chance ofbeing conscious during and after an accident,so youcan unbuckle and get out, ismuch greaterif you are belted.Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have towear safety belts?A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will bein most of them in the future. But they aresupplemental systems only; so they workwithsafety belts — not instead of them. Every airbagsystem ever offered for sale has required the use ofsafety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that hasairbags, you still have to buckle up to get the mostprotection. That is true not only in frontal collisions,but especially in side and other collisions.Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far fromhome, why should I wear safety belts?A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in anaccident — even one that is not your fault — youand your passengers can be hurt. Being a gooddriver does not protect you from things beyond yourcontrol, such as bad drivers.Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km)of home. And the greatest number of seriousinjuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than40 mph (65 km/h).Safety belts are for everyone.1-13
