T
o hel p automobil e occupant s surviv e th e
tremendo s force s o f a crash , vehicl e
designer s hav e develope d numerou s safet y
feature s an d systems .
Fo r example , moder n automobile s hav e
fron t an d rea r "crus h zones " tha t ar e
designe d t o defor m o r crumpl e i n a crash .
Th e crumplin g lengthen s th e duratio n o f th e
crash , an d help s absor b an d dissipat e cras h
energy , whic h lower s th e rat e o f deceleration
i n th e passenge r compartment .
Th e dashboard , seats , headrest s an d othe r
interio r part s o f automobile s als o us e energy -
absorbin
g material s t o hel p protec t th e
occupants . I n addition , th e steerin g colum n i s
designe d t o collaps e i f struc k durin g a
collision .
Sea t belt s hav e prove n t o b e th e singl e
mos t effectiv e devic e i n reducin g automobil e
fatalitie s an d injurie s i n al l type s o f accidents .
Whe n properl y worn , sea t belt s hel p restrai n
occupant s fro m strikin g interio r part s o f th e
car , the y kee p occupant s connecte d t o th e ca r
s o the y ca n tak e advantag e o f th e energ y
absorptio n buil t int o th e car , an d the y
allo w occupant s t o decelerat e mor e slowl y
durin g a crash . Airbag
s ar e a recen t additio n t o a
car' s occupan t protectio n system . Airbag s
hav e a n importan t bu t limite d role—t o
hel p protec t th e head s an d chest s o f
front-sea t occupant s durin g a sever e
fronta l collision .
However , yo u can' t ge t th e ful l
benefi t o f thes e life-savin g feature s
unles s yo u buckl e up . I n short , it' s bette r
t o le t th e ca r absor b th e energy . It' s buil t
t o tak e it .
T
o d o thei r job , airbag s inflat e wit h
tremendou s speed—ove r 10 0 mph . S o whil e
airbag s ca n sav e you r lif e an d reduc e th e
severit y o f injuries , the y ca n als o caus e
abrasion s an d bruises . An d i f yo u si t to o
close , or don' t wea r a sea t belt , or don' t si t in
a prope r position , a n inflatin g airba g ca n
caus e broke n bone s o r mor e seriou s injuries .
Wearing a seat belt, and sitting up, well back
from the steering wheel or dashboard, reduces
the chance of injuries caused by a crash or an
inflating airbag.
