Seatbelts Matter: Understand the Importance of Buckling Up

Even though vehicles today are equipped with more safety features than ever before, including lane departure prevention systems, tire pressure monitoring systems, and back-up cameras, none of these devices play as crucial of a role in driver and passenger safety as a seatbelt. Read on to learn why seatbelts matter and better understand the importance of bucking up.

Safety

You can’t understand the importance of buckling up without talking about the obvious – safety.  This is a seatbelt’s only function, to help keep you and your passengers safe.  When in an accident, they can keep you from being thrown through the windshield, ejected from the car, or flying forward where you could be thrown into or hit your head on the steering wheel. It’s just as crucial for your passengers, whether they are in the front or back seats.  Again, this prevents them from possibly getting thrown from the vehicle.  

You’ll also notice that your seatbelts engage in less violent circumstances, such as when you have to break quickly or perhaps hit a rough patch of terrain.  This helps keep you in a position to have the best control over your vehicle and ensure you keep you and your passengers clear from harm.

It’s the Law

“Click it or ticket” is a common slogan used in seatbelt campaigns.  It only takes a minute to click your seatbelt, abide by the law, and keep yourself and your passengers safe.  If you choose not to buckle up, you could be pulled over and cited.  These tickets will cost you hundreds of dollars and are meant to sting financially to drive home the concept that this simple action is far less expensive than the ticket, or worse, injury or death.

Make it a Habit

Next to entering your vehicle and maybe starting it, putting on your seatbelt should be one of your first actions.  If you get in the habit of doing this, it will begin to feel almost foreign not to.  Sit down, put on your seatbelt.  Period.  If you’re the driver and you have passengers, make sure they all do the same. Even if you’re just going “down the street,” go ahead and buckle up.  Sometimes, those situations where we think we’d be most safe are the ones that can surprise us because our guard is down and it’s completely unexpected.  That’s the idea with seatbelts though, right?  To protect you and everyone in your vehicle from the unexpected.

Like any other standard piece of vehicle equipment, seatbelts are meant to be used each and every time you get into a vehicle.  Doing so further adds to the effectiveness of other safety features such as air bags.

All vehicle models at Chestatee Ford come standard with driver and passenger seatbelts; some are even adjustable for personal comfort.  Come see us today.  With everything from luxury to off-road vehicles available, you’re sure to find the car, truck, or SUV that’s just right for you.

 

Rock via Flickr by PabloEvans under the use of CC By 2.0 / Cropped from original

Posted in Chestatee Ford, Community, Local, Tips and Tricks, Travel, Uncategorized | No Comments »