How much can wearing a seatbelt reduce the risk of injury?
2 Answers
Wearing a seatbelt can reduce the risk of injury by 80%. Introduction to seatbelts: Car seatbelts are safety devices designed to restrain occupants during a collision, preventing secondary collisions with the steering wheel, dashboard, etc., or avoiding injuries and fatalities caused by being ejected from the vehicle during a crash. Working principle: The retractor contains a ratchet mechanism. Under normal circumstances, occupants can pull the webbing smoothly and freely while seated. However, when the continuous pulling of the webbing from the retractor stops abruptly or when the vehicle encounters an emergency situation, the ratchet mechanism engages and automatically locks the webbing, preventing it from being pulled out further.
While researching road safety data, I found that wearing a seatbelt significantly reduces the risk of injury, decreasing the chance of fatal or severe injuries by approximately 45% to 50%. This isn't just talk; in actual accidents, it works by restraining body movement, preventing passengers from being ejected from the vehicle or hitting hard objects during a collision, thereby distributing the impact force. For example, in a high-speed rear-end collision, those not wearing seatbelts might suffer spinal injuries or concussions, while those buckled up often sustain only minor injuries. From personal experience, I've seen reports stating that front-seat passengers wearing seatbelts can halve the probability of death, and it's also effective for rear-seat passengers, reducing the risk by about 40%. Moreover, forming this habit is effortless—just buckle up instinctively when starting the car, don't wait until an accident happens to regret it. Adopting good driving practices, such as combining seatbelt use with airbags, can further enhance overall safety.
