One of the latest DGT surveillance campaigns indicates that more than 800 people every day do not wear their seat belts when traveling.
The good thing about this case is that these cases will be in the minority, largely thanks to the awareness campaigns that have been carried out, in addition to the fines that the offence can result in, with four points on the licence, as well as the accidents that will resultwhere the seat belt will be reduced by 50% with the risk of death in the event of an accident.
Currently, current regulations will require all vehicle users to wear seat belts, whether they are driving or not and whether they are in the front or back seats.
As a recommendation, for a certain number of years, where the DGT will end informing that all seat belts are fastened rear seats, whether or not there are passengers.
Although it may seem strange to us, this recommendation will make sense when driving with objects in the trunk. But why? As the agency has been explaining for a few years, if there is a head-on collision, where the objects will come loose in the car, they can become real projectiles.
Elephant effect
The DGT wanted to explain what the elephant effect is, as we explained the DGT in 2018the magazine Traffic and Road Safety. “Under the effect of inertia, any object moving freely in a car continues its forward motion and multiplies, under the effect of speed, the force with which it would hit any occupant up to forty times its weight at only 50 km/hh. Thus, a three-year-old child whose CRS was poorly anchored and was traveling in the back seat, in the event of an accident, would hit the occupant – or the driver – of the front seats with the same force as if he had turned over. on a giraffe (at 50 km/h) or on an elephant (at 90 km/h), in what is called the elephant effect.
Although one would think that the belongings would be safe in the trunk, where a severe collision could cause the objects to weigh more, in the case of suitcases, the recliners would be overturned and even the front passenger compartment would be affected.
For this reason, since it costs nothing, some recommend fastening your seat belts when no one will be sitting in the back seats.
What are the benefits of wearing a seat belt?
There are many benefits to using a belt. Among these, we will talk about some of the most important ones:
- Significant reduction in the risk of death, a possible impact: the probability of dying is reduced by half. This makes its use justified and mandatory. Deaths have decreased in recent years, although much remains to be done.
- Prevention of serious injuries: Serious bodily injuries resulting from accidents are prevented. For this reason, it helps to protect our health and survival.
- Immobilization of the body in case of violent impacts: The seat belt will keep us attached to the seat. What it does is block against impacts where the body of the seat cannot move. All this is positive for health.
- High efficiency of rear seats: can reduce and prevent rear seat occupants from hitting the front occupants, causing serious damage that can make it more difficult to control the car in some cases. It is better if a rollover occurs, because the risk of death is reduced by 77%.
Increased security
We want to express its importance, because it also has a positive effect on the driving we do.
When safety and key measures are followed, it happens that a much quieter drivingso that it affects our ability to solve problems we may encounter on the road.
Driving more calmly will improve the driving experience and help improve driving, so that there are good driving habits.
Not in vain, The physical and psychological benefits are numerous that the seat belt offers us, both when we are driving and as simple companions.
When alternative belts or various protective measures must be incorporated, as is the case for babies, children or pregnant women, it is necessary to follow what the DGT recommends and use duly approved products.
We hope that all this is clear to you and that there is no doubt about the important role that the seat belt plays in road safety.
