THE SCIENCE OF A SEAT BELT According to Telesure md, Thomas Creamer: :Statistics shows that not wearing a seatbelt

increases your chances of being killed or being seriously injured in a car accident by over 80%. So whats your excuse for not buckling up? Many motorists refuse to wear a seat belt based on the fact that they have an airbag. What many dont know is that air bag increases the efficiency of a safety belt by 40%. Air bags were never meant to be used as a seat belts replacement. A study showed that while new vehicles may have high-quality airbags which offer excellent protection, wearing a seatbelt is still vital, says Creamer. Another common justification for not wearing a seat belt is the Im only popping out to the shops excuse. Actually, this is the best time to wear a seat belt, since 80% of traffic fatalities occur within a 40km radius from home, at a speed of less than 80 km/h. And then there is the I'm afraid the seat belt will trap me in the car excuse. Statistically, the best place to be during an accident is in your car. To quote another grim statistic, it has been said that if you're thrown out of the car, you're 25 times more likely to die. Creamer says that the reason why a seat is so import is that, in a collision, everything becomes 30 times heavier. That means that if you are holding a 10kg child on your lap, and you are involved in a car accident, that child will suddenly weigh 300kg which is the weight of approximately five refrigerators. It has been worked out that for some, wearing a seat belt is situational. Many motorists only buckle up on long trips, if the weather is bad or if there is a road-block ahead. So how can we ensure that all motorists wear this important safety device, regardless of the situation? Well, for starters, seat-belt reminder systems in all vehicles should be enhanced to go beyond the usual five to ten second warning. We have received word of motorists asking service centres to disarm their seat belt alarm, citing that it is an annoyance. This is unacceptable, says Creamer. Another tactic would be to urge tougher law enforcement for those who do not wear a seat belt. In addition, motorists should know that a seat belt becomes completely ineffective if not worn correctly. For those who do not know, a seat belt should always:

Fit snugly across the pelvis/lap area. Never be placed across the stomach area. Cross the chest and collarbone comfortably. If the lap and shoulder belt do not fit a child properly, you should be using a child restraint system or booster seat for children over the age of three.

On the whole, a seat belt is your ultimate means of surviving a car accident and is your best weapon in reducing injury. There should be no excuses for not wearing one, concludes Creamer.