Safety Belts Save Lives

Highway crashes occur when least expected. That is why it is important to wear safety belts all of the time. Research has shown that lap/shoulder belts, when used properly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent. To ensure that all passengers ride safely, remember these simple rules.

Buckle up on every trip in a motor vehicle. The majority of all highway crashes happen within 25 miles of home and happen at 40 mph or less. It is just as important to buckle up on a short trip around town as it is to buckle up on long road trips.

Buckle all children age 12 and under in the rear seat of the vehicle. Head-on crashes cause the greatest number of serious injuries. A person sitting properly restrained in the back seat is the farthest away from the impact and less likely to be injured. Unbelted or improperly belted children can easily slip off the front seat during pre-crash braking, throwing them against the dashboard where the air bag can strike them on the head or neck with tremendous force before it is fully inflated.

Air bags are designed to be a supplemental restraint. To be effective, air bags must be used in conjunction with a properly positioned safety belt. Never, never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of a passenger side air bag. The force of a deploying air bag can severely injure or kill an infant in a rear-facing infant seat.

Safety belts must be worn properly to provide the best protection. Lap belts should be low and snug on the hips with no slack in the shoulder harness. The shoulder belt should lie across the chest and over the collarbone with minimal slack. Do not wear the lap belt across the abdomen. Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.

For more information regarding safety belts, air bags and child restraint systems, contact your local county Extension agent with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service or call the Passenger Safety Office at (979) 458-3428.