Many frivolous drivers in particular often ask why they need to use seat belts. Unfortunately, sometimes even well experienced drivers overestimate their driving abilities and skills. And that’s why such behavior often ends terrible fatal crashes. So how can we avoid these situations. First, let’s get acquainted with seat belts. Why we use them for nearly 60 years.
Seat belts history
So, the basic version of the three-point belt, which is now used by people all over the world was invented by modest aeronautical engineer of Volvo Nils Bohlin. At the beginning of his career he worked at Saab. In 1959 was produced a new car Volvo PV 544, which of course was equipped with exactly this three-point seat belt. Since then, the belt is considered to be the gold standard in the world and all cars are produced exclusively with such belts, just improving them every year.
So why it is necessary to use seat belts? Assignment of seat belts
First, it’s vitally important to your health.
You know, the importance of the seat belt can be compared to a lifeline, whereby at the moment of crash or emergency braking the driver is held in place.
So what will happen if during the accident, all the participants of it will be unfastened?
US University of Michigan investigated 104 accidents, which killed 136 people. They identified four major causes of death of passengers: release from the seat,
- striking the wheel,
- blows on the door,
- blows on the dashboard.
It was also established that 50 percent of these victims could have been saved, if only been fixing seat belts. That is why the Canadian government regulations are very strict regarding violations of traffic rules.
Current Canadian government regulations in regards importance of wearing seat belts
Mortality in Canada during car accidents declined by 17 percent, after it passed a law on compulsory use of these belts.
In the case of non-compliance with this law, a driver who doesn’t wear seat belt will be fined. This also applies to those passengers who are under 16 and that parents which don’t use proper child seats for their children. In this case, the penalty in Canada can be from 200$ to 1000$. By the way this fine is considered to be one of highest in the world for not wearing a seat belt.
In what cases you can be fined?
- if your seat belt is broken, even if you haven’t used it (when you are stopped by police)
- if you are a taxi driver and your seat belt is broken
- if you didn’t provide your own child car seat or booster seat, traveling with a child in taxi. (taxi driver don’t need to provide a child car seat)
- if your child is under 13 it is not allowed to sit in the front seat ( only if there is no active airbag or if it is switched off in front of the car)
There are also situations where it is allowed not to use seat belts at all. There are not so much of them. As a conclusion we recommend you to comply with all the rules of the road, do not forget about the seat belt, be careful and attentive. So you save your life and the money in your wallet.