VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES: SEAT BELTS, RESTRAINTS,
AND AIRBAGS
Seat Belts
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), properly worn seat
belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat
passengers by 45%. We cannot stress this enough:
Always wear your seat belt, even during short
trips. Seat belts should be worn even if the vehicle
is equipped with airbags.
Follow these steps to ensure the seat belt is in the
proper position:
X
Check to make sure your seat belt fits snugly
against your body. A seat belt that is too loose
is not as effective at preventing injury.
X
Never place the upper part of the seatbelt
behind your back or under your arm. Doing this
can cause injuries. The lower part of the seat
belt should be placed low and across the hip
bones (not across the abdomen).
Head Restraints
Head restraints are the more accurate term for
head rests. We will use the term throughout the
Smart Driver course.
Neck injuries are reported by drivers in more
than 1 in 5 rear-impact crashes. Although studies
show that proper adjustment of a head restraint
can prevent neck injuries, many drivers do not
take the time—or do not know how—to adjust their
head restraints.
Here are two tips to help you make sure the
head restraint is in the proper position:
X
Center of the head restraint should be aligned
with the back of your head, midway or as high
as it can be adjusted.
X
The distance should be as close as comfort will
allow but not more than 2 1⁄2 inches away.
AARP 36
ARE WE READY TO DRIVE?
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