Why Seat Belts are Still Important? || Laws, Benefits (2023)

Why seat belts are still important? Car crashes are one of the major causes of death, which is not decreasing. However, seat belts can prevent damage to some extent. According to Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics, there were 108,018 total injuries, out of which 1,630 were fatal. And on average, 27% of fatalities in Canada are due to overspeeding.

Seat belts are essential equipment that can reduce all these fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts can reduce the number of accidents by half. A simple method can effectively reduce accidents as it can protect from needless deaths.

Seat Belt Laws in Canada

Before further discussing why seat belts are still important, let’s discuss some laws. Following are some of the seat belt laws in Canada you need to know:

Drivers and front seat passengers must wear seat belts at all costs. A seatbelt is also necessary for backseat passengers.
Seatbelts must be worn and adjusted properly while driving.
A driver’s duty is to ensure that children from age 6 to 15 are wearing seat belts. Children who weigh 18 kg/40 lbs also need a seat belt, and the driver must ensure that they wear seat belts.
Drivers also need to ensure that child restraint is present for younger children weighing about 18kg/40lbs.
Seat belts can be removed or modified from a motor vehicle.
Those drivers in the learner and probationary stages can’t have more passengers than the safety belts.

Exceptions

Until now, you can somewhat answer why seat belts are still important, but we will further explain it. There are exceptions where seatbelts are not required but are still recommended. Following are the exceptional cases:

Cars that are not equipped with seatbelts by the manufacturers.
A person with some medical issues can’t use a seat belt. But still, there is a need for a letter from a professional practitioner.
For motor vehicles that are used for deliveries but driven at 40km/h or even less.
Regarding child restaurants, taxis or emergency vehicles are not required to have them, but still, it’s better to have safety measures.
Similarly, cars that are rented for a 14-day lease or shorter are also not required to have child restraints. But it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?

Usage of Seat Belts

Seat belts are still important as it reduces the risk of fatal car accidents. The given points will explain why seat belts are still important:

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, most fatal injuries occur when someone ejects from their seat. With the help of seatbelts, the possibility of ejection is reduced and increases the survival rate in a car crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that seat belts can reduce injury by 50% for front seat passengers and drivers.
In case a car starts skidding or is out of control, the seatbelt will hold you in position and can save lives.
Unbleted people who are in accidents tend to stay in hospital 3 to 5 times more than people who wear seatbelts, thus increasing medical costs.
The lap and shoulder belt can distribute the impact of force during the accident on the strongest parts of your body. In this way, seat belts reduce the probability of injury to the head, heart, and other sensitive areas.

Why Seat Belts Are Still Important?

Now, let’s discuss the main question, which is why seat belts are still important. With the help of a seat belt, you can remain intact in your seat in case of accidents. During car crashes, those who don’t wear a seat belt are thrown against the steering wheel, which can cause serious injuries. Kenneth Mann says, “Seat belt protects internal organs during a crash because it controls forward motion of the body and rotation of the pelvis.”

You can say that seatbelts are basically the first line of defense against fatal car crashes. Do remember that airbags work with seat belts to reduce the injury impact, but they can’t be a replacement for seat belts.

Along with this, if you are not wearing seat belts, your heart and spine are also in danger. According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, partial loss of motor functions can increase expenses by $347,484 in the first year and $42,206 for each coming year. So why not just wear seatbelts instead of going through all this?

Misconceptions Regarding Seat Belts

Till now, you have got the answer to your question of why seat belts are still important. The next thing to discuss is the misconceptions regarding seat belts, which are as follows:

Seat Belts will restrict movements and are uncomfortable to wear.
You can’t get out of the car if an accident occurs and you are wearing a seatbelt; you will be trapped.
Airbags can protect you during a car crash, so you don’t need seatbelts.
Only going to the supermarket; therefore, there is no need for a seat belt.
There is no time for me to put seat belts on.

These are only misconceptions that have no truth at all. Seat belts actually prevent you from major injuries, and in fact, they prevent you from being knocked unconscious. It only takes a few seconds to wear a seatbelt, so why not avoid the chances of major injury? Do remember that most accidents happen within 25 miles of your house. That is why it’s necessary to wear seatbelts.

Conclusion

Why seat belts are still important? The above article concludes the discussion and emphasizes the importance of seatbelts. Not only do they prevent ejections, but they also substantially decrease the risk of severe trauma during collisions. By effectively distributing the force of impact, seat belts safeguard crucial body parts.

While some misconceptions persist, it’s crucial to understand that the few seconds needed to wear a seatbelt can prevent serious accidents. It’s a matter of seconds that can make all the difference. So embracing this simple yet crucial safety measure is crucial.