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The use of seatbelts has been advocated since its invention as helpful in preventing death or disabling injuries to the driver and the passengers. However, its use is still not carried out by most of the people. In particular, children are likely to suffer from injuries when they are not properly tied with seatbelts. Ebel et al (2003) state that motor vehicle injury remains the largest cause of death in the ages from four to eight years. This is because adult seatbelts are applied to many children instead of proper child seats (Ebel et al, 2003). Child seats are specially designed bearing in mind the small physique and lower pain thresholds. Ebel et al emphasize the importance of car seats, preferring it over seat belts for children. Parents may erroneously believe that their children are safe if they use seatbelts though they need to use proper child seats instead (Ebel et al, 2003). Alongside, proper information and guidance should be given regarding how to use safety belts correctly in order to prevent injury from its wrong use.
The concept behind the use of a seatbelt is to make the passenger a part of the car. In case of sudden breaks, collisions or abrupt swings on the road, seatbelts can prevent any disabling injury or even death of the people in the car (“The Importance of Seatbelts”, n.d). When the seatbelt is worn, a person does not absorb the shock of the collision, nor is thrown out of the car. Instead, the seatbelts help transfer the impact to the body of the car away from the passenger. With tight application, seatbelts help prevent sudden jerk and movement of the back, spine and neck, which are further very important for preventing any spine or back injuries.
Seatbelts are very helpful preventing many injuries and even fatalities. There are a lot of literature and statistics that continue to increase. Many studies recommend the use of seatbelts, particularly for children. In the USA alone, the number of accidents is calculated to be 6 million in 2007, in which more than 41,000 lost their lives (“Air Bags, Seat Belts Important in Preventing Spine Fractures”, 2009). Most of these injury cases happen because of improper or no use of seat belts while riding or driving the car.
Important Statistics and Information About Use of Seatbelts
There are many statistics available to show the importance of seatbelts, and their use while driving. Studies reveal that over eighty percent of child deaths during car accidents take place due to not using or improper using of a seatbelt. For adults, the risk of death is also very high; it is only twenty percent lower than for children. Seatbelts prevent a person from ejecting out of the car because this case has a very high mortality rate (“Important Seatbelt Statistics You Need to Know”, nd).
Seatbelts have been shown to decrease significant numbers of fatalities over the past. In 2004, the NHTSA reported prevention of 15,434 fatalities. The costs related with medical care and other associated injuries can be as high as $26 billion per year (Buckling Up, 2008). Again, the impact of state laws also plays a significant role in the outcomes of injuries and mortality rates prevented. Studies show that laws help in making people abide by it and use seatbelts regularly. In New York, the rates of seatbelt users increased from 11% in 1984 to 76% in 1999 (Buckling Up, 2008). This shows how government can prevent and instill the use of safety belts among motorists (Buckling Up, 2008).
Increasing awareness among students and teenagers is also very important. Study by Steptoe et al (2002) demonstrated that in their respective countries, various seatbelt awareness measures led to students using seatbelts more often. Among the male students, this increase was seen from 63% to 73%, and among female students, the similar rise was seen from 66% to 77% respectively (Steptoe et al, 2002). The same study also found out that incidences of not using seatbelts were positively related to alcohol impaired driving and other violations of the traffic rules (Steptoe et al, 2002).
Injuries Due to Lack of Use of Seatbelts
Medical researches show that seatbelts are particularly helpful in preventing many spine and back injuries. Researchers claim that air bags and seatbelts both are the most effective combination to avoid and prevent spine injuries and accidents. The same set of researches demonstrated that those who lost their lives or were seriously injured in spinal areas corresponded to 38% of the passengers not wearing seatbelts at the time of crashes (Air Bags, Seat Belts Important in Preventing Spine Fractures, 2009). While air bags are helpful in preventing spine injuries, use of air bags alone without seatbelt can increase the risk of severe thoracic spine fracture (Air Bags, Seat Belts Important in Preventing Spine Fractures, 2009).
While there is much discussion for the use of seatbelts, there is not much effort done to promote the correct usage of seatbelt and how to spot faults in applying it. Studies show that seatbelts when used wrong can actually cause more damage than benefit. Poorly used and applied seatbelts can cause injuries, particularly in case of infants and small children (Campbell, Macdonald and Richardson, 1997).
The recent introductions of smart seatbelt reminders of SBRs have helped to improve compliance of motorists with respect to seatbelts (Krafft et al, 2006). The devices continue reminding the drivers to put on their safety belts. With constant repetition, the researchers believe that drivers will start to comply with the safety rules, and there will be an increase in the use of seatbelts in such a way (Lrafft et al, 2006). Reports study that near a hundred percent of motorists would use a seatbelt in cars which would have SBRs attached to them. This method can be a very effective way to ensure the use of seatbelts (Krafft et al, 2006).
Conclusion
The use of seatbelts is an essential part of road driving and safety measures. Ensuring the right use of safety belts and safety seats, especially in case of little children, is important. Therefore, proper educational programs and information resources are also significant in order to increase compliance with the safety rules among motorists.
Works Cited
“Air Bags, Seat Belts Important in Preventing Spine Fractures”, Sciencedaily.com, ScienceDaily LLC, 2009. Web.
“Buckling Up”, Saferoads.org, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety, 2008. Web.
Campbell, Harry, Macdonald, Sheena, and Paul Richardson. “High Levels of Incorrect Use of Car Seat Belts and Child Restraints in Fife—An Important and Underrecognised Road Safety Issue.” Inj Prev 3 (1997): 17-22. Print.
“The Importance of Seatbelts”, Tristanmac.tripod.com, Physics and Car safety, n.d. Web. 2011.
Ebel, B.E., Koepsell, T.D., Bennett E.E. and F.P. Rivara. “Too Small for a Seatbelt: Predictors of Booster Seat Use by Child Passengers.” Pediatrics 111.4 (2003): e323-e327. Print.
“Important Seatbelt Statistics You Need to Know”, AnapolSchwartz.com, Anapol Schwartz Attorney At Law, n.d. Web. 2011.
Krafft, Maria, Kullgren, Anders, Lie, Anders and Claes Tingvall. “The Use of Seat Belts in Cars with Smart Seat Belt Reminders- Results of an Observational Study.” Traffic Injury Prevention 7. 2 (2006): 125-129. Print.
Steptoe, Andrew, Wardle, Jane, Fuller, Ray, Davidsdottir, Sigurlina, Davou, Bettina and Joao Justo. “Seatbelt Use, Attitudes, and Changes in Legislation: An International Study.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 23. 4 (2002): 254-259. Print.
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