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132
Seat belt s
Seat belt s
Why seat belt s?
It is a proven fact t hat seat belt s offer good prot ect ion in accident s
w earing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most count ries.
Seat belt s which have been correct ly fast ened and adjust ed hold t he occupant s of
t he car in t he correct seat ed posit ion
energy (energy of mot ion) t o a considerable ext ent . They also prevent uncont rol-
led movement s w hich, in t urn, may w ell result in severe injuries.
The occupant s of a vehicle who have fast ened and correct ly adjust ed t heir seat
belt , profit t o a major ext ent from t he fact t hat t he kinet ic energy is opt imally ab-
sorbed by t he belt s. The st ruct ure of t he front end of t he vehicle and ot her pas-
sive safet y measures, such as t he airbag syst em, also cont ribut e t o reducing t he
kinet ic energy. The energy produced is t hus absorbed and t here is less risk of in-
jury.
Accident st at ist ics prove t hat seat belt s w hich are fast ened and properly adjust ed
reduce t he risk of an injury and enhance t he chance of survival in a major accident
⇒ p age 132.
It is import ant t hat you pay at t ent ion t o safet y measures, part icularly w hen t rans-
port ing children in t he vehicle ⇒ p age 146, What you should know about t rans-
port ing children!.
Fig. 116 Driver w earing seat belt
⇒ f ig.
116. Thus
⇒ f ig.
116. The seat belt s reduce t he kinet ic
WARNING
● Fast en your seat belt each t ime bef ore set t ing of f - also w hen driving in
t ow n! This also applies t o t he people seat ed at t he rear - risk of injury!
● Expect ant w omen must also alw ays w ear a seat belt . This is t he only w ay
of ensuring opt imal prot ect ion f or t he unborn child ⇒ p age 134, How are seat
belt s correct ly fast ened?.
● It is import ant for t he belt w ebbing t o be properly rout ed if t he seat belt s
are t o of fer t he maximum prot ect ion. You can see a descript ion of how saf et y
belt s should be f it t ed properly on t he next pages.
Not e
Please comply wit h any differing legal requirement s w hen using the seat belt s.
The physical principle of a front al collision
Fig. 117 The driver is cat apult ed f orw ard if not w earing a belt / The rear seat occupant is cat a-
pult ed forw ard if not wearing a belt
The physical principle of a front al accident can be explained quit e simply:
Mot ion energy, so-called kinet ic energy, is produced as soon as t he vehicle is mov-
ing, bot h for t he vehicle and it s occupant s. The magnit ude of t his kinet ic energy
depends essent ially on t he speed at w hich t he vehicle is t ravelling and on t he
weight of t he vehicle including t he occupant s. The great er t he speed and w eight
increase, t he great er t he amount of energy which has t o be absorbed in t he event
of an accident .
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