Seat Belt Sense

Canada has 900,000 kilometres of roads, 22 million licensed drivers and 20 million registered vehicles. Canadians are among the most mobile people on earth.

Over the last 10 years, more than 30,000 people have died in motor vehicle crashes in Canada.

• Alcohol and drug impairment is the biggest killer on our roads. Approximately one third of all drivers killed in Canada had been drinking. Of these, many were under 35 years old, were not wearing their seat belt and died after having been ejected from the vehicle in a single vehicle crash.
• About 22% of fatalities can be directly attributed to speeding.
• Failure to obey signs and lights at intersections accounts for 20% of deaths.

Today 93% of Canadians use their seat belts. Seat belts save about 1,000 lives a year in Canada. Each percentage increase in the national seat belt wearing rate has helped to reduce the number of motor vehicle fatalities.

The 7% of Canadians not wearing seat belts account for almost 40% of fatalities in vehicle collisions.

 

The Protective Cocoon

New Canadian motor vehicle safety standards continue to improve the safety of vehicles. Over the years, new standards have led to the creation of an engineered occupant life space within the occupant compartment of motor vehicles. The occupant life space is like a “protective cocoon”.

The cocoon is designed and constructed to withstand the force of many impacts. Air bags, collapsible steering columns, padded dashboards, reinforced beams and doors, stronger seats and anchorages, and head restraints, have all transformed today's cars, light trucks and vans into safer vehicles. At the moment of a collision, these safety devices all work together to preserve the cocoon of the occupants. However, it is the use of seat belts that keep occupants strapped into the protective cocoon. The success of all other devices is dependent on the seat belt being worn. If unrestrained, occupants face serious injury or death when:

1. They hit something inside the vehicle. It could be the steering wheel or the reinforced pillars that surround the windows and doors.
2. Something or someone else hits them. Any unrestrained passenger becomes a projectile that moves toward the point of impact. Anyone in the way can be crushed.
3. They are thrown from the vehicle, crash landing on the pavement, smashing into a rock or pole, or are hit by another vehicle.

 

Seat belts keep occupants from being ejected, hitting something inside the vehicle or having something hit the driver, all while greatly increasing the chances of surviving a crash.

 

The Belt

 

In a collision, large forces are at work. In order to minimize the effects of these forces on vehicle occupants, automotive engineers design seat belts to hold drivers and passengers securely in their seats, allowing them to ride out the crash and avoid major contact with the vehicle interior.

The lap and shoulder belt must be properly adjusted. When both belts are used properly, they spread the collision forces over the stronger areas of the body's skeleton.

Steps to success

• Buckle the seat belt, making sure the latch clicks firmly into place.
• Adjust the lap belt so that it fits snugly across your hips and not your abdomen.
• Make sure the shoulder belt retracts so that it fits snugly across your chest and over your shoulder.
• Never wear your shoulder belt under your arm. In a collision, your upper body will pivot forward and your head will strike the vehicle interior. The belt will press into your abdomen and likely cause serious or even fatal injuries to internal organs.
• If you're pregnant, take extra care when adjusting your seat belt. Sit as upright as you can, and wear the lap belt under your abdomen and as low over the hips as possible. The shoulder strap should go between your breasts and off to the side above your belly.
• The seat belts are less effective if they are not properly fitted. Bulky winter clothing or large body types can pose a particular risk. Always try to place the lap belt below the bottom edge or fold of a winter jacket or below the lowest part of your belly so that it sits closer to the lap than to the belly button.
• The shoulder belt found in the front seat can be adjusted in height to improve the fit.

 

It’s the Law

 

The proper use of seat belts is the law in all Canadian provinces and territories. Not using them properly may result in fines, demerit points or a reduction in insurance settlements. More importantly, it’s the primary device that keeps you safe during a collision; so buckle up!