Should Rear Seat Passengers Wear Seat Belts on Highways?
2 Answers
Rear seat passengers should wear seat belts on highways. The function of the seat belt is to instantly tighten during a collision or emergency braking, securing the passenger firmly to the seat to prevent secondary collisions. Reasons why seat belts may not retract include: 1. The upper slider of the seat belt is too close to the B-pillar, causing misalignment between the belt in the slider and the retractor, leading to jamming; 2. The lower roller cannot immediately return to position; 3. Debris in the friction area between the B-pillar buckle and the seat belt; 4. Damaged seat belt buckle.
To be honest, I have a deep understanding of the importance of wearing seat belts in the back seat on highways. Just a couple of days ago, I took my family on a long-distance trip, and before setting off, I made sure to check the seat belts in the back. In case of sudden braking or an accident on the highway, the impact force of passengers in the back seat flying forward can flip the front seats. Last year, my friend learned this the hard way—during a front-end collision, a relative who wasn't wearing a seat belt in the back seat was thrown into the dashboard and suffered a fracture. Nowadays, traffic police are strict about enforcement, and it's common to see people holding signs at highway toll booths reminding backseat passengers to buckle up. The physics behind it is simple: at 100 km/h, the inertia of the human body during sudden braking is equivalent to the impact of jumping from a building. Airbags can't protect backseat passengers; only the seat belt can secure the body. It's all about forming a habit—click it into place as soon as you get in the car. Don't prioritize comfort by hugging a pillow in the back seat; when an accident happens, there's no room for regret.
