Safety belts - Proper positioning, adjustment and drivers' legal responsibilities

We have all heard of the little old lady who lived in a small apartment and died of starvation. When the police went to investigate, they found over $10,000 in cash. She starved to death, yet she had the resources available to survive within her reach. What do you call someone like that?

Now let me pose another question. What do you call someone who dies when survival is within his or her reach? Like someone who dies in a crash because they didn't wear their seat belt. What is even worse is when someone does not put his or her child in a proper safety seat.

Lap/Shoulder Safety Belts

Florida's Law is "Click it, or Ticket!!"
Buckle up, It's the Law!!!

In 28 of the states with belt use laws in 2004, the law specified secondary enforcement. That is, police officers are permitted to write a citation only after a vehicle is stopped for some other traffic infraction.

As of December 2004, 49 states and the District of Columbia had belt use laws in effect. The laws differ from state to state, according to the type and age of the vehicle, occupant seating position, etc.

Research has found that lap/shoulder safety belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. For light truck occupants, safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.

In 2004; 31,693 occupants of passenger vehicles (cars, light trucks, vans, and utility vehicles) were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. This represents 74 percent of the 42,636 traffic fatalities reported for the year.

Among passenger vehicle occupants over 4 years old, safety belts saved an estimated 15,434 lives in 2004.

Ejection from the vehicle is one of the most injurious events that can happen to a person in a crash. In fatal crashes, 74% of passenger car occupants who were totally ejected from the vehicle were killed. Safety belts are effective in preventing total ejections. Only 1% of the occupants reported that were using restraints were totally ejected, compared with 29% of the unrestrained occupants.¹

The facts speak for themselves. Whether you are going twenty miles an hour or eighty miles an hour, you are a lot better off wearing your safety belt. If you want to see first-hand safety equipment in operation, all you have to do is watch the NASCAR races on television. I have seen a car go over the wall and crash on the road below the track and the driver walked away. I know they have a lot more than just a shoulder and lap belt, but I also know that they are traveling over 180 miles per hour. You know what they say on television "Don't try this at home."

The 1999 NHTSA study, Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES), linked traffic and medical records in seven states to assess total costs of injury from motor vehicle crashes. The study found that the average inpatient costs for crash victims who were not using safety belts were 55 percent higher than for those who were belted. (Most current data available)

Proper Positioning and Adjustments of Safety Belts

Wear lap belts around your hips, not your stomach. Fasten them snugly. Wear a shoulder belt only with a lap belt. F.S. 316.614.

1. It is unlawful for any person:
   1. To operate a motor vehicle in this state unless each passenger under the age of eighteen is restrained by a safety belt or by a child restraint device pursuant to F.S. 316.613, if applicable; or
   2. To operate a motor vehicle in this state unless the person is restrained by a safety belt.
2. It is unlawful for any person eighteen years of age or older to be a passenger in the front seat of a motor vehicle unless such person is restrained by a safety belt when the vehicle is in motion. Under the age of 18, use of seatbelts is a primary enforcement.

Any violation of these laws is considered a nonmoving violation that carries a fine.

Head rests- Proper positioning and adjustment

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, whiplash injuries in the US, due to front or rear crashes cost more than 7 billion dollars a year. It is no wonder that the insurance companies have an active interest in the quality of headrest that is being installed and utilized in motor vehicles today.

In 1995 it was nearly impossible to find a good headrest. European car companies led the charge in providing quality adjustable headrests for the consumer.

A headrest is only effective if it is positioned properly. Most front and rear crashes cause the head to twist on the neck. This snapping action is what causes whiplash. The best way to prevent that from happening is to have a headrest adjusted so that the point of contact between your head and the headrest is right where the device meets the base of the skull (where the skull meets the top of the neck). Another good rule of thumb is that the point of contact should be no lower than the ears.

The position of your seat has a lot to do with the effectiveness of the headrest as well. The distance between the headrest and the back of your head should be as little as possible. If your car seat is reclined so low that it resembles the recliner in your living room instead of a driver seat it will do you little good. This distance defeats the purpose of the headrest. Your seat should be no more than at a 70-degree angle. Anything more than that is ineffective in preventing whiplash.

Airbags including special precautions regarding children and small adults

Airbags, combined with lap/shoulder safety belts, offer the most effective safety protection available today for passenger vehicle occupants. It is estimated that, as of 2004, more than 157 million airbag-equipped passenger vehicles were on the road in the US, including 139 million with dual airbags. In 2004, an estimated 2,647 lives were saved by air bags. From 1987 to 2004, a total of 16,905 lives were saved.⁴

Air bags are supplemental protection and are not designed to deploy in all crashes. Most are designed to inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal crash. For this and other reasons, lap/shoulder belts should always be used, even in a vehicle with an airbag.

Children in rear-facing child seats should not be placed in the front seat of vehicles equipped with passenger-side air bags. The impact of a deploying air bag striking a rear-facing child seat could result in severe injury or death. The NHTSA also recommends that children 12 and under sit in the rear seat away from the force of a deploying airbag.

It is recommended for small adults and the elderly to practice extra precautions as well. The force of an airbag could have a severe impact on these individuals. To prevent any unnecessary injuries, have the individual position their seat as far back as possible to lessen the impact of a deploying airbag.

Helmets

NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,316 motorcyclists in 2004 in the US. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 671 lives could have been saved. Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists. Reported helmet use rates for fatally injured motorcyclists in 2004 were 56 percent for operators and 47 percent for passengers.⁵

OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICES

Automakers include the following safety devices to make sure your vehicle is as safe as it can be:

HEAD RESTRAINTS:
Adjusted to the middle of the head, level with the ears, it protects the neck from whiplash.

DOOR LOCKS:
Lock all doors. Door locks provide better protection in a collision, preventing occupants from being ejected.

COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMNS:
The steering column collapses in a collision so that a driver's chest is protected from injury. The steering column absorbs some of the impact forces in a collision.

PADDED DASHBOARDS:
Designed to cushion the occupant if the occupant comes in contact with the dashboard.

REARVIEW MIRROR:
Rearview mirrors are glued on the windshield, not bolted to the frame of vehicle. If the occupant comes in contact with the mirror, the injury is less severe.

RECESSED KNOBS ON THE PANEL:
Vehicle designs try to eliminate any sharp or protruding knobs such as heater controls, radio knobs, and windshield wiper switches.

RECESSED DOOR HANDLES:
Designed to be somewhat recessed and smooth to prevent injury if contact is made to handles by occupants.⁶

Importance of vehicle maintenance

It has been said if you take care of your car, it will take care of you. Nothing is truer in reference to taking care of your car. Safe driving depends on having our systems in good working order. Maintenance should be a daily habit. Check your mirrors, watch your lights and gauges, and if they indicate a problem, you either fix it or take it to someone who will fix it for you.

But there is much more to vehicle maintenance. There are procedures that you need to take care of at regular intervals. Your owner's manual is the best source of information on scheduled maintenance. It lists the equipment that needs to be checked and when this maintenance should take place. Some of the procedures are easy enough for you to do yourself. Others should be done by a trained mechanic. Once you know what they are and when they need to be done, it is up to you to arrange for maintenance.

These are the types of tasks that need to be completed, as suggested in the owner's manual:

Engine, Power Train, and Ignition Systems:

Tune the engine, change the transmission fluid, check clutch pedal travel and adjust as necessary, and lubricate parts of power train.

Fuel and Exhaust Systems:

Check fuel lines for leaks, replace fuel filter, replace air filter, clean carburetor, check performance of emission control system, and check exhaust pipe and muffler for leaks.

Steering and Suspension Systems:

Grease steering linkage, align front wheels, grease wheel bearings, and check condition of springs and shock absorbers.

Brakes:

Good brakes are an essential safety component in any motor vehicle. How long brakes last and how they perform depends on how you use and maintain them. If a leak develops in the brake system you may experience total or partial brake failure thus increasing the stopping distance. Steering may also become difficult. The braking system must be checked immediately and repaired. NEVER drive a car with a faulty braking system, regardless of the distance. Maintenance requires that you:

Check master cylinder and brake lines for leaks, check brake linings and drums (or pads and discs), check operation of parking brake.

Lights:

Headlight, taillights, brake lights, and turn signal lights can burn out. Check them by watching their reflection on a wall or a garage door. You may also ask someone to help you. Defective lights make your car hard to see.

Keep headlights aimed properly. Headlights aimed too high can temporarily blind an oncoming driver. Headlights aimed too low reduce your sight distance at night or during low-visibility conditions.

Lubrication and Cooling Systems:

Lubrication is the use of oil and grease to reduce friction in a car's moving parts. Lubrication prevents damage from heat and friction and keeps the moving parts operating efficiently. Drain engine oil and replace with fresh oil, change oil filter (whenever oil is changed), and change the coolant in your radiator at regular intervals.

Tires:

Tires are very important in having a safe trip. Remember that only a small portion of the tire is used to make the vehicle stop and turn. It is your only contact with the road. It is important to maintain the proper air pressure. Too little air even in one tire can make a car difficult to control. Tread on a tire helps to keep traction, which means control and the ability to stop on a wet surface.

You can extend the life of your tires by avoiding fast starts, stops and turns. Check tires periodically and rotate them regularly. Look for weak spots, cuts, blisters, rocks caught in the tread, and uneven wear. Replace tires before they become unsafe.

Passing laws with information on clear distance and prohibitive situations

Passing on a two-lane road, meeting traffic

Drivers of vehicles proceeding in the opposite direction shall pass each other on the right and each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of the main-traveled portion of the roadway, as nearly as possible.

Observe the oncoming vehicle. Is it traveling on or near the centerline? You might want to slow down by removing your foot off the gas and covering the brake pedal. Move to your right, if the vehicle is close or crossing the centerline. You may check the condition of the shoulder if you need a way out. Be very careful at night. And the later at night it becomes, the more important it becomes to watch the oncoming traffic, be aware that the driver may be sleepy or has been using drugs.

Passing in the same direction on a two-lane road:

First, make sure you are in a passing zone, no solid yellow lines on your side of the centerline. Check for oncoming traffic that can interfere with you completing your pass. Can you tell how fast the vehicle is approaching? Are there other vehicles ahead of the vehicle you are passing? Before starting your pass, look for vehicles that may be entering the highway from a side road, either to travel in the lane in which you are passing or attempting to enter the highway to travel in the lane in which you will be returning to when you complete your pass. Check for vehicles that may be following you or even in the process of passing you. Stay a safe distance behind the vehicle you want to pass. The closer you get to the vehicle the less you can see ahead. This is especially true when passing large vehicles. Before you start to pass, signal the drivers behind you by using your turn signal. Signal the driver ahead of you that you are going to pass by an audible signal, blowing your horn, not blasting your horn, in the day time. Once you have made your pass do not return to the right side of the roadway until it is safe and you are clear of the vehicle you have passed. The pass must be completed before coming within 200 feet of any approaching vehicle. Once again before you move back into your lane, signal your intention to return to that lane.

Passing on the right.

You may pass on the right, if the vehicle is making a left turn or about to make a left turn. You may pass on the right if the roadway has an unobstructed pavement not occupied by parked vehicles and is of sufficient width for two or more lanes of moving traffic in each direction. You may pass on the right if you are on a one-way street with two or more lanes. In passing on the right you must do so only under conditions permitting such movement and in no event shall such movement be made by driving off the pavement or main travel portion of the roadway.

When You May Not Pass

You may not pass on a two-lane road with traffic moving in the opposite directions under certain conditions.

1. When you see a "Do not Pass" or "No Passing Zone" sign.
2. When a solid yellow line is painted on your side of the centerline.
3. When approaching the crest of a hill or a curve in the highway where the driver's view is obstructed within such a distance as to create a hazard. This is due to the possibility that another vehicle may be approaching from the opposite direction.
4. When approaching within 100 feet of or traversing any marked intersection.
5. When approaching within 100 feet of or traversing any railroad grade crossing.
6. When the view is obstructed upon approaching within 100 feet of any bridge, viaduct or tunnel.

Being Passed

Stay at your same speed; do not speed up or slow down. Help the other driver pass you safely. Move to the right side of your lane to give them more room and a better view of the road ahead. At night put on your low beam headlights.