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SAFETY FIRST!

-By Yvonne Olivas I get in the car, turn on the motor, start driving, but wait! I have forgotten a small detail. Lets rewind this scenario one more time to observe what is missing; I get in the car, put on my seat belt, turn on the motor, and start driving. The small difference between the first scenario and the second is the action of putting my seat belt on. I know many people tend to forget to wear or decide not to wear their seat belts because they do not find them useful. One of those individuals is my boyfriend. I am afraid one of these days, when he forgets or decides not to wear his seat belt, he might be in an car accident and sadly to said be seriously injured or even dead! I know many of you have loved ones just like me who do not wear their seat belts at all times and are worry for their safety too. For that reason, I would like for you to talk and inform them about the importance of wearing a seat belt at all times! Keep in mind a simple action can save their life. Every year many deaths could be prevented if individuals in motor vehicles had worn their seat belts. According to the International Journal of Engineering, government officials estimate the belts reduce fatalities by 45 percent and serious injury by 50 percent (N. Iovnescu; S. Iovnescu, 2011, p. 162). Imagine one of your loved ones was part of that 45 percent who was saved at the time of the accident. Would you not be grateful he/she was wearing their seat belt, and was thankfully alive due to it? Not to mention he/she was also saved from serious injuries such as losing their eye sight. Experts say that seatbelt reduced perforating eye injuries by 60% (Abbas, Abu-Zidan, and Hefny, 2011, Biomechanics and role of seat belts in RTC, para. 10). Is it not a good idea to wear a seat belt then? Furthermore, mandatory seat belt laws have been passed in order to impose individuals to wear their seat belts at all times. Even though every state except for New Hampshire has a mandatory belt law (Grantz and Henkle, 2002, Seatbelt Legislation, para. 6) it has changed the nation completely. These laws have made a significant impact because they have helped reduce injuries and deaths on the road; due to the fact that if one is not wearing a seat belt he/she will receive a ticket for not following the law. These laws focus on trying to protect your love ones at all times, but on many occasions not everyone follows orders. In order for your love ones to be safer remind them to always put on their seat belt whenever getting in a car. Do not forget to point out to them the signs which indicate them they are supposed to be wearing their seat belt. Remember what Mahatma Gandhi said first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then

they fight you, then you win because trying to convince someone who does not want to wear their seat belt is not easy, but if you keep on trying you will convince them to do so. Safety is a priority for you and the rest.

References
Abbas, A. K., Abu-Zidan, F. M., Ashraf, F. H., (2011). Seatbelts and Road Traffic Collision Injuries. World Journal of Emergency Surgery. 6(18). Doi:10.1186/1749-7922-6-18 Gantz, T., & Hankle, G. (2002). Seatbelts: Current Issues [Web]. Retrieved from http://home.preventioninstitute.org/traffic_seatbelt.html Iovnescu, N., & Iovnescu, S. A. (2011). Considerations on Present Solutions for Passive Safety Systems of Motor Vehicles. Annals of the Faculty of Engineering Hunedoara -, 9(3), 161-168. Retrieved October 9, 2013, from Academic Search Complete (EBSCO) database.

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