Safety Belts; How To Wear Safety Belts - Chevrolet Malibu 2012 Owner's Manual

3-10 Seats and Restraints
Why Safety Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel
as fast as the vehicle does. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you keep
going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the safety belts!
When you wear a safety belt, you
and the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because
you stop over a longer distance and,
when worn properly, your strongest
bones take the forces from the
safety belts. That is why wearing
safety belts makes such good
sense.
Questions and Answers About

Safety Belts

Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not.
Your chance of being conscious
during and after a crash, so you
can unbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags,
why should I have to wear
safety belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they work
with safety belts not instead
of them. Whether or not an
airbag is provided, all occupants
still have to buckle up to get the
most protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in
all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing safety belts.

How to Wear Safety Belts

Properly
This section is only for people of
adult size.
There are special things to know
about safety belts and children.
And there are different rules for
smaller children and infants. If a
child will be riding in the vehicle,
see Older Children on page 3 33 or
Infants and Young Children on
page 3 35. Follow those rules for
everyone's protection.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.