Pro & Cons of Seatbelts
Driving safety depends on minimizing or eliminating known risks. A driver's reactions to unforeseen risks and unexpected dangers are safety threats that have little, if any, preventative measures. Unforeseen dangers and risks like erratic driving and accidents can be mitigated, even prevented, by consistently observing certain safe practices.
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Pros
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In a 2001 study, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that nearly 60 percent of all passengers killed in vehicle accidents were unrestrained. The NHTSA also fround that seat belt use saves an estimated $50 billion dollars annually in medical care, productivity losses and other costs from driving related injuries.
Configurations
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In passenger vehicles, seatbelts most commonly consist of a lap belt and a sash running across a passenger's shoulder. Because this seatbelt attaches to three points on the vehicle it is known as a three-point system. Many high performance and racing applications require the use of four-point, five-point and six-point seat belt harnesses. These restraint systems have more attachment points and belt configurations. For such high-intensity uses, these restraint systems often have manufacturing dates printed on them to determine when to replace the seatbelts. Because these systems endure high stress, they must be strictly cared for and maintained.
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Indirect Disadvantages
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A Time Magazine article on the hidden dangers of seatbelts revealed that seatbelt use tends to increase risk-taking in drivers. This might cause a mental shift in drivers, causing them to operate vehicles at higher speeds or more recklessly. This could lead to an increase in more severe accidents, which, in turn, reduces or mitigates the effectiveness of seatbelts. With higher speeds and more violent accidents come seatbelt-related injuries. This is another indirect disadvantage from seatbelt use.
Trip Length
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The Pennsylvania Sheriff's' Association points out that 50 percent of all traffic-related deaths take place within 25 miles of a driver's home. No matter how short a trip might be, using a seatbelt is well worth the few seconds worth of effort to buckle up. Clearly, the statistics favor wearing a seatbelt despite the proposed travel time or distance.
Conclusion
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Regularly wearing seatbelts significantly reduces the chances that drivers and passengers experiencing accidents will suffer serious injuries. The benefits from wearing seatbelts clearly outweigh any indirect, negative effects. While seatbelts cannot prevent all driving-related injuries for vehicle occupants, their use should be routine for all drivers and passengers.
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