Ford Escort 2001 Owner's Manual page 77

Seating and safety restraints
The purpose of the Belt Minder is to remind occasional wearers to wear
safety belts all of the time.
The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts:
(All statistics based on U.S. data)
Reasons given...
"Crashes are rare
events"
"I'm not going far" 3 of 4 fatal crashes occur within 25 miles of home.
"Belts are
uncomfortable"
"I was in a hurry"
"Seat belts don't
work"
"Traffic is light"
"Belts wrinkle my
clothes"
"The people I'm
with don't wear
belts"
"I have an air bag" Air bags offer greater protection when used with
"I'd rather be
thrown clear"
76
Consider...
36 700 crashes occur every day. The more we
drive, the more we are exposed to "rare" events,
even for good drivers. 1 in 4 of us will be
seriously injured in a crash during our lifetime.
We design our safety belts to enhance comfort. If
you are uncomfortable - try different positions for
the safety belt upper anchorage and seatback
which should be as upright as possible; this can
improve comfort.
Prime time for an accident. Belt Minder reminds
us to take a few seconds to buckle up.
Safety belts, when used properly, reduce risk of
death to front seat occupants by 45% in cars,
and by 60% in light trucks.
Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in single-vehicle
crashes, many when no other vehicles are around.
Possibly, but a serious crash can do much more
than wrinkle your clothes, particularly if you are
unbelted.
Set the example, teen deaths occur 4 times more
often in vehicles with TWO or MORE people.
Children and younger brothers/sisters imitate
behavior they see.
safety belts. Frontal airbags are not designed to
inflate in rear and side crashes or rollovers.
Not a good idea. People who are ejected are 40
times more likely to DIE. Safety belts help
prevent ejection, WE CAN'T "PICK OUR CRASH".