| SEAT BELTS |
 | Americans especially, have been in love with the automobile since its invention. You might even say, it's been a case of unbridled passion. Sorry, lame pun ...
But, as we soon learned, when we combined the automobile with a lack of restraint, you get a strange version of the airplane.
And a lot of aches and pains. |
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As incredible as it seems, it took us 50 years to realize that what was happening to people in their automobiles really wasn't a laughing matter.
Nearly a decade later we figured out one way to reduce the number of traffic casualties: seat belts. But they never really "clicked" with most people ... (Another excellent pun!) |
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So more than 20 years later, we made it mandatory. Are we quick, or what? Now it's the law. You're required to wear safety belts to drive a car (s. 316.614(4)b). Even though we've been told time and time again about the lifesaving qualities of seat belts, some people still don't believe it. So we're going to tell you one more time. And we're going to keep telling you until you get the message. Safety belts can definitely save your life.
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Airbags combined with safety belts give you an even better chance for survival.
And what about air bags? Air bags have been known to prevent serious injuries in head-on collisions at speeds of up to 65 MPH. That's not just a lot of hot air, either. These things combined with safety belts give you an even better chance of survival.
So why not look for cars equipped with air bags? Sure, they might cost a little more money. But believe me, your life or the life of your family is well worth the extra expense.
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Hey look, if you won't listen to me, maybe you'll listen to a couple of guys who really know something about safety belts and air bags: Vince and Larry.
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| VINCE AND LARRY |
 | --Do not attempt this at home. We are professional dummies.
--Oh, NOOOOO!!!!!!
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--All right pal, that's it. That was the last crash test for me.
--But Vince... .
--I've got a nice safe career as a department store dummy waiting for me.
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--Vince, you can't quit. Now more people are buckling up everyday and --
--At last, a wardrobe. A real wardrobe!
--And the word is getting around. People are starting to pay attention.
--Ah, come on, Larry... . Look, we're munching on wiper blades... So the people will remember to buckle up, but nobody's listening.
--But Vince, they are. There are new films and videos being made right now about all kinds of crash protection devices.
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Automatic safety belts, Air bags.... It's an idea most of us have grown up with. By the time we're old enough to drive, we've heard the message a dozen different ways. Such a simple idea: you're safer when you wear a safety belt. Even so, there are still people who don't wear safety belts. Maybe they just don't realize what a difference safety belts can make.
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| Here's what can happen when a car moving at 23 MPH crashes into something stationary. On impact, the car stops in 1/10 of a second, but the unbelted driver or passenger continues to move forward. An average person, weighing 165 lbs., will hit with an impact a force of nearly 98 tons. |  |
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 | But with a safety belt properly secured, a crash at the same speed can be nothing more than a little bump. In fact it could prevent serious injuries. So why don't people wear safety belts all the time?
People say that a seat belt does not allow them to escape from the car in case of fire or submersion.
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But the truth is less than one half of 1% of car crashes involve fire or submersion which can trap the driver or passengers. And even then, people secured by safety belts have a better chance to survive because the belt holds them up right in the seat and they aren't as likely as to be knocked unconscious.
Here's another reason people give for not wearing safety belts: "I'm not going far, just a quick trip."
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The fact is most crashes that cause death and injuries happen within 25 miles of home at speeds of 30 to 40 MPH. Without a safety belt, death has been known to occur at speeds as low as 12 MPH. But people wearing safety belts have survived crashes at up to 60 MPH. Makes you think, doesn't it? And while you're thinking about it let's look at the proper way to wear safety belts. Safety belts are designed to hold you on your seat on impact, and to help you absorb the forces of the crash in the strongest areas of your body. Your pelvis is a very strong bone capable of withstanding great forces, so your lap belt should be worn 2 to 4 inches below the belt line.
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 | Not over your abdomen like this, but low on the lap against your thighs. Adjust it so it's comfortable but snug. Your shoulder belt should come over your shoulder and across your chest, never behind your back or under your arm. Make sure it's not too slack.
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There should only be room enough for a clenched fist between your belt and your chest-- if it's slack, adjust it. In most cars a gentle tug will do. Just pull the shoulder-belt out about 5 inches and let it go.
Children over 8 usually wear safety belts the same way as adults. Like adults they should do the fist test to make sure the belt is snug. And children should be told to always fasten their safety belts as soon as they get in the car, even if the adult who's driving doesn't insist.
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 | The proper position for an infant seat is in the back seat facing the rear of the car. Never take an infant anywhere in a car -- not even home from the hospital -- without putting the baby in a properly installed, crash-tested infant carrier (s. 316.613).
Most work something like this. But check the instructions that come with yours for proper use.
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If you can't afford an infant carrier, there are service organizations that will help you rent or buy one. You know automobile crashes are the number one killer and crippler of young children. It's tragic and this is what makes it even more tragic: up to 90% of those child deaths and 80% of injuries could be prevented through proper use of child safety seats.
Every time you get in a car, use safety belts and proper child safety restraints -- for your child's sake, for your sake, and for one more good reason: it's the law.
--Right?
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 | Right. The driver of a motor vehicle is responsible to ensure everyone under the age of 18 is properly restrained (s. 316.614(4)a). Failure will result in the driver receiving a citation.
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In closing, let's look at the most common excuses people give for not wearing a safety belt:
"I forgot, I just had to get out a couple of minutes ago and got back in." "It's too uncomfortable I guess, especially in this truck I just feel uncomfortable." "I stopped at the corner to let my son out and just forgot to put it on." "If you were to have a wreck and the safety belt didn't break, then you wouldn't get thrown out and get killed anyway." "Lazy I guess." "If I get in a wreck I would much rather get thrown from the vehicle." "Well I'm afraid of getting trapped if I fall in the water or if there is a fire or something."
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"Well, if I was out on the highway I would put it on; but I'm just going to the store a couple of blocks away so why bother." "I just never got in the habit."
It takes only 3 seconds to fasten a safety belt. Spending 3 seconds to buckle up increases your chances of surviving a crash by as much as 50%. So make it a habit.
Safety belts. Smart from the start.
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 | --Hey, Lar, it won't be long now...
--Won't be long until what, old buddy?
--Until we're off to store dummy stardom. You know, with automatic safety belts and air bags keeping people safe in their cars we can quit this business, man. Come on, no more gear-shift guacamole -- know what I mean?
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--Vince, brace yourself, but there are still people out there who don't buckle up.
--What are you trying to tell me? You mean they really think it's safer to get thrown out of their cars than to stay in them during a crash? If only they could see what we see every day... . Not wearing safety belts and hoping to get thrown clear of your car is asking for trouble. You're four times safer if you stay inside your car! And once an impact is over, you have a much better chance of getting out if you're conscious.
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 | --Look, I don't care how good a driver you are. You can't avoid every crash and you can't predict when one is going to happen. Just loading the kids to go to the store, huh? Most crashes happen less than 25 miles from home and at low speeds. But it doesn't take much to do a lot of harm. I know. I've been there. |
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| --You know, Vince, by going through all these tests we're helping engineers design some terrific car safety devices. What are you doing? |
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| --Hey Buddy, this is going to be a front-ender. I'm going to save this face for a modeling career.
--Vince, we're dummies. We don't buckle up or use air bags!
--Oh, NOOOOO!!!!
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You could learn a lot from a dummy. Buckle your safety belt!
Front seat belts are required equipment if seat belt anchorages were part of the original equipment of your automobile. This applies to most cars on the road today.
Wear your seat belts. It makes good sense. And it's the law.
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| SAFETY SEATS AND BELTS |
The law requires the driver and front seat passengers to wear seat belts when driving, and everyone under 18 must be belted no matter where they are in the car. Remember, it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all passengers under 18 years of age are properly restrained. If they are not, the driver of the car will receive a citation.
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Florida requires that all children three years of age or younger be restrained in an approved infant carrier. The law also requires that all children between four and five must use an approved restraint device, and all persons up to 18 years of age must wear safety belts. (s. 316.613(1)a, 316.614(4)a)
In choosing a safety seat for your child, remember three important
points: (1) it must have a seal of federal approval; (2) it must fit properly in your car; and (3) it must be the proper size for your child.
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Safety seats must: - Have a seal of federal approval
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Safety seats must: - Have a seal of federal approval
- Fit properly in your car
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Safety seats must: - Have a seal of federal approval
- Fit properly in your car
- Be the proper size for your child
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| Drivers wearing safety belts have more control over their cars in emergency situations and are therefore more likely to avoid collisions. If you're involved in a collision, your safety belts are designed to keep you well within the safety zone of your car. This helps you maintain better control of the vehicle to avoid secondary collisions. |
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Safety belt benefits: - Increase stopping distance
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Safety belt benefits: - Increase stopping distance
- Greatly reduce force of impact
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Seat belts diminish the effect of the impact, similar to increasing stopping distance -- it's as if the distance between you and the windshield had been magically extended. And by redirecting and absorbing the forces of the impact, the belt takes the brunt of the impact instead of your body taking it through glass and steel.
Proper wearing of seat belts is very important during pregnancy. For maximum protection from seat belts, seats should be upright. Extend the latch plate and belt as far as you can, attaching the buckle until it clicks.
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If a longer belt is needed, extenders are available from automobile dealers, usually at no extra charge. Position the lap belt as low on your hips as possible. It should settle snugly around your hip and pelvic bones and across your upper thighs. There should be no slack in the lap belt portion. Position the shoulder belt over your shoulder, collar bone, and down across your chest.
Many cars offer a comfort feature in this system that will allow a small amount of slack. It works like a window shade: pull the belt out at least five inches and let it retract, than repeat. Since seat belt mechanisms vary, consult the owner's manual for your vehicle.
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Actually we should all buckle up every time we get into a car.
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 | The fact is, in a collision at just 15 miles an hour without a safety belt, you could hit the windshield with the force of 150 pounds load being dropped from a 2nd story window.
You know what kind of damage that can do to your face?
It could kill you!
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When you consider the protection provided by seat belts, it's extremely foolish not to wear them. Approximately 19,000 people who don't buckle up die every year in cars, light trucks, and vans that are equipped with safety belts! About 65% of these people could have been saved if they had buckled up. Safety belts cut your chances of being killed or maimed in a crash by about 65%.
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AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELTS | Automatic safety belts are designed so that the driver and occupant do not have to manually buckle their safety belts. These belts are self-adjusting and lock upon impact. However, an automatic safety belt only secures the shoulder harness. To be safe, you must also manually secure your lap belt. |
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| AIR BAGS |
Many new model cars come equipped with driver-side and/or passenger-side air bags. This equipment is designed to protect the individual in a cushion of air that absorbs the force of impact and protects the individual from striking hard objects directly to the front. This equipment, used in conjunction with safety belts, is the most effective combination of protective equipment in today's cars.
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Air bags open at a velocity of 200 MPH. Infants, children and frail adults may be injured or killed by air bags. The safest place for infants or frail adults is in the rear seat of a motor vehicle, secured in safety seats or by safety belts. An infant in any kind of safety seat should never ride in the front seat of any motor vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag.
Never allow children or frail adults to sit on the edge of the front seat near a dash-mounted, passenger-side air bag.
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| MOTORCYCLES |
 | Unlike motorists, motorcyclists are not protected by a shell of steel and metal. Also, they don't have the added protection of safety belts. In a serious collision they are very likely to be thrown off their motorcycle onto the pavement.
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About the only protection that can be provided for a motorcyclist is a crash helmet to protect the head. Florida law requires that a helmet like this be worn by any person riding on a motorcycle (s. 316.211(1)).
However, a person over 21 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle without protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head if such person is covered by an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle (s. 316.211(3)b).
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| HEADRESTS AND MORE... |
Headrests are designed to protect a driver's neck from whiplash injuries. A headrest must be properly adjusted in order to provide maximum protection. To be properly adjusted, the top of the headrest should be level with the driver's ears. The headrest is most effective when it is close to the driver's head. Using a cushion on the seat back is not recommended. After adjusting the headrest make sure it is locked in position. Do not drive with the headrest removed from a seat that was designed to have one.
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Protective devices like safety belts and head restraints can definitely reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by traffic crashes each year. That is an irrefutable fact that has been proven time after time in study after study.
And as more and more cars come onto our roads equipped with air bags, driving will become that much safer. When used in conjunction with safety belts, air bags have helped drivers walk away from even serious head-on collisions with little more than minor injuries.
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But as good as safety equipment is getting on our cars, they are worthless unless used, and used properly. On the other hand, there is certainly no substitute for safe driving so YOU are the best safety feature a car can ever have. When it comes right down to it, YOU make the safest car in the world.
(The following segment is a summary of the film, based on the USA Training Co. course.)
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