Having good driving skills is not enough to protect you from any possible harm on the road. A very efficient and simple driving technique to be safe when driving is wearing a seat belt at all times. Nevertheless, the seat belt safety method is one of the simplest means of protecting the driver as well as the passengers. In fact, it was proven that wearing seat belts really helps in saving lives.

Therefore, the drivers, regardless of their age should make efforts about knowing everything that they can about seat belt safety. Moreover, studies reveal that passengers have more or less 40% likelihood of surviving a vehicular accident if they have their seat belts on. On the other hand, in some cases of severe accident, survival may not be possible even with the protection of the seat belts.

Photo by: ggvic, Creative Commons

But in most common accidents, the use of simple but well buckled seat belts significantly reduced the number of injuries. Roughly speaking, 20 % of the total road accident victims every year have resulted from not wearing a seat belt. Other people suffer permanent and grave disabilities in mishaps where seat belt safety was not put into practiced.

Many safety devices for automobiles were further enhanced since the creation of the passenger motor vehicles. Despite of that, none of the devices has created a big impact like the seat belt. Seat belt safety is perhaps the most efficient way to protect the passengers when a crash or collision happens.

The following are seat belt safety tips that you should apply whenever you ride your car:

1. Wear your seatbelt, regardless of what the weather conditions maybe.
2. Take note that seatbelts are only functional if used and worn properly. Likewise, the lap belts as well as the shoulder belts should also be used according to how they should be worn.
3. Always check your seatbelts for any sign of wear and tear and possible mechanical glitch.
4. Never even try to double up or share your seat belt as they are specifically made to protect one person only.
5. Even if you have airbags, keep in mind that they are more useful in car crashes when you are wearing a seat-belt. Seatbelts make sure that the passenger stay at the right position in the event of collision.
6. Infants should be placed in a rear-facing car safety seat while the toddlers should be in the forward-facing child safety seat. Kids aged 4 to 8 years can start to use seat belts.
7. Be sure that your seat belt is properly secured and locked to its base before starting the engine.

Because of the obvious importance of the seat belt safety measures, all the vehicle manufacturers are obligated to follow the strict safety rules and regulations implemented by the government. If they don’t abide by the seat belt safety rule they can be sued or will not be allowed to sell their cars at all. As for the drivers, there are also rules for wearing a seatbelt which must be followed or face fines or even termination of driver’s license. So, make efforts to wear safety belts whenever you will travel, besides, it’s for your own good.