While it is a reflex for many drivers and passengers to adjust their seat belts, a minority of users still seem reluctant.
However, the figures are quite clear: using your seat belt divides the risk of being killed in a car accident by 3, making it an essential element in the safety of the driver and his passengers.
Why do you need to adjust your seat belt?
In France, it is Article R412-1 of the French Highway Code which states that« in traffic, every driver or passenger of a motor vehicle must wear a safety belt approved as long as the seat he occupies is equipped with it by the provisions of the» book.
Apart from disabled people, whose body shape is not adapted to wearing a seat belt, no one can avoid this obligation. Even during pregnancy, whether she is a driver or a transient, the expectant mother will have to adjust her belt.
Beyond the legislation, it is necessary to adjust your seat belt to combat physics and specifically newton’s law. This, when related to the automobile, can explain the distribution of forces after abrupt braking. By using a seat belt, the bodies are not projected towards the front of the vehicle.
Buckle up well
The driver and passengers shall adjust and fasten their seat belts before starting the vehicle. This must even be done for the driver, before adjusting the mirrors or his seat. Buckling your seat belt while the vehicle is driving is a very complex action that will not only cause the driver to lose alertness, but will also alter the trajectory.
To function optimally, the seat belt should cover the bust diagonally from shoulder to waist. Once fitted and buckled, the straps should be tight and not twist. Otherwise, in the event of an impact, they could result in serious injury.
Accident and belt
Since it is sometimes difficult to realize the importance of a seat belt in a road accident, here is what a driver or passenger feels when they do not wear it:
The following is the force ratio that is applied in a collision, depending on the speed of the vehicle:
- at a speed of 50 km/h, a child weighing 15 kg shall be sprayed with a force equivalent to approximately 150 kg
- at a speed of 50 km/h, an adult weighing 70 kg shall be projected with a force equivalent to about 700 kg
- at a speed of 90 km/h, a child weighing 15 kg shall be projected with a force equivalent to about 500 kg
- at a speed of 90 km/h, an adult weighing 90 kg shall be projected with a force equivalent to about 2.2 t
The sanctions
During a police check, a driver who does not wear his seat belt violates the Highway Traffic Act. The latter will therefore be punished by a 4th class ticket, which will result in a flat-rate fine of €135 and the loss of 3 points on his driving license.
If a passenger has not fastened his seat belt, he will also be punished by the same 4th class ticket, but without any loss of points. If the passenger is under the age of 18, the driver will be held responsible for the offense.
In recent years, automobiles have been equipped with a warning light to indicate the absence of the driver’s seat belt. On the most recent models, this device also takes into account the situation of the passengers to carry out its journey safely.