Pontiac Sunbird Owner's Manual page 18

Here Are Questions Many People
Ask About Safety Belts-
and the Answers
Q:
Won't I be trapped in the vehicle
after an accident if I'm wearing a
safety belt?
wearing a safety belt or not. But you
can easily unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you're upside down. And
your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so you
can unbuckle and get out, is much
greater if you are belted.
A: You could
be-whether you're
Q:
Why don't they just put in air
bags so people won't have to wear
safety belts?
Inflatable Restraint systems, are in
some vehicles today and will be in
more of them in the future. But they
are supplemental systems only-so
they work with safety belts, not
instead of them. Every "air bag"
system ever offered for sale has
required the use of safety belts. Even
if you're in a vehicle that has "air
bags," you still have to buckle up to
get the most protection. That's true
not only in frontal collisions, but
especially in side and other
collisions.
A:
'Air bags,'' or Supplemental
Q: If I'm a good driver, and I never
drive far from home, why should I
wear safety belts?
if you're in an accident-even one
that isn't your fault-you and your
passengers can be hurt. Being a goo0
driver doesn't protect you from
things beyond your control, such as
bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25
miles (40
km)
of home. And the
greatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occur at speeds of less
than 40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
A: You
may be an excellent driver, but