Buckle Up that Seat Belt for Safety

Anthony Fontanelle
January 16, 2008

Safety should always come first on the road. Thus cars are fitted with various exterior and interior features to ensure a safe drive. The car’s body is made durable to minimize damage in minor collisions, while the interior is equipped with the latest safety technologies like airbags. One vital feature that has become standard equipment is the seat belt. Through the years, it has proven to be a very important safety innovation that no vehicle can do without. Reports say that Princess Diana of Wales could have survived the tragic car crash if she had only worn her seat belt. One research from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration shows that seat belts save about 13,000 people in the United States every year.

Also sometimes referred to as a safety belt, the seat belt basically keeps the occupant from flying off to the windshield and hitting the dashboard when the car abruptly stops. George Cayley invented the seat belts in the 1800s, but these were first used in aircrafts. It was not until in the 1920s when American physicians felt the need to incorporate the seat belts in cars.

There are different types of seat belts, namely lap, sash, lap and sash, three-point, and criss-cross. The lap seat belt was common in older cars, but is still being used today in some rear middle seats and passenger aircrafts. This is an adjustable strap placed over the waist. Another type is the sash that runs over the shoulder, which was used in the 1960s. However, it was discontinued due to its limited benefits. The combination of lap and sash was used in 1960s and 1970s. Almost similar to the lap and sash, the three-point uses a single continuous length of webbing. This is the seat belt commonly used today since it can protect the wearer’s chest, pelvis, and shoulders during collisions. Starting from September 1, 2007, all cars sold in the US have required a lap and shoulder belt in the center rear. The criss-cross seat belt, on the other hand, is an experimental safety harness featured in the Volvo SCC.

Most seat belts today have a locking mechanism or inertia wheels which tightens the belt when quickly pulled. This is especially designed to protect the passengers’ body during collisions. Meanwhile, seat belt technologies such as pretensioners and webclamps aid in keeping passengers inside the car without harming them in case of a crash.

Source:  Amazines.com