SEATBELTS
Introduction: Why Seatbelts?
- Wearing a seatbelt helps keep you safe inside your vehicle, whereas not wearing one can result in being ejected from the vehicle during a crash—an outcome that is almost always fatal.
- Wearing a seatbelt incorrectly, such as placing the strap under your arm, puts both you and your children at risk in the event of a crash.
The benefits of wearing a seatbelt are equally clear:
If you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce the risk of:
Fatal injury by 45%
Moderate to critical injury by 50%
If you buckle up in a light commercial vehicle, you can reduce the risk of:
Fatal injury by 60%
Moderate to critical injury by 65%
The First Seatbelts
In the 1930s, simple lap belts began to be used in airplanes and some racing vehicles. The aim was to prevent the passenger from being thrown from the seat during hard maneuvers or sudden braking. By the 1950s, some automobile manufacturers started offering optional lap belts for front seats; however, they did not become widespread due to issues with comfort, habit, and the perception of "restricting freedom."
Nils Bohlin and the Three-Point Seatbelt
In 1958, Volvo hired Nils Bohlin, an engineer who had been designing aircraft ejection seats at Saab. In 1959, Bohlin developed the three-point V-type seatbelt that we still use today.
Although Volvo patented this design, they opened the patent to the entire industry for free. This allowed other manufacturers to use the belt as well; a decision that paved the way for saving millions of lives.
Volvo estimates that the three-point belt saved more than 1 million lives in the 40 years leading up to Bohlin's death.
The Seatbelt During a Crash
- During a crash, the vehicle slows down severely or comes to a sudden stop within approximately 0.1–0.2 seconds (100–200 ms); however, the body of an unbelted passenger continues to "travel" forward at the same speed.
- The inertia lock located in the seatbelt reel detects this sudden deceleration within milliseconds and locks the belt webbing to prevent it from extending further.
- Simultaneously, the pretensioner system activates—similar to an airbag trigger—to suddenly tighten the belt; it pulls the body back towards the seat and seatback (within approximately 15–30 ms).
- Subsequently, the load limiter mechanism inside the belt allows the belt to "give" slightly in a controlled manner to limit the force exerted on the rib cage; this ensures that while the body is decelerated, the upper body is not subjected to excessive force.
- This entire process takes place within the first 100 milliseconds. The goal is to "catch" the body in the seat in a controlled manner before it strikes the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, or is ejected from the vehicle, and to extend the human body's deceleration time to reduce fatal internal injuries.
Statistics Don't Lie: A 50/50 Chance of Survival
Fatal Accident Rate Decreases by 50%
According to World Health Organization (WHO) and traffic safety reports, seatbelt use reduces the risk of fatal injury for front-seat occupants by 45% to 50%. This means that instead of flipping a coin at the moment of a crash, you automatically double your chances of survival.
The Myth of "I'm Just Driving in the City, I'll Be Fine"
One of the biggest misconceptions is that crashes only occur at high speeds and on highways.
Research shows that: A significant portion of fatal crashes occur within 40 km of your home and at speeds below 60 km/h.
Crashing into a wall at 30 km/h (the speed of a cyclist) generates an impact equivalent to falling from the 3rd floor. If you are not wearing a seatbelt, your body absorbs this impact directly through the rib cage and head area.
The Rear Seat: A Silent Danger
While front seatbelt usage rates are rising in Turkey, unfortunately, the rate for rear seats remains very low. However, failing to wear a seatbelt in the back seat can kill not only you but also your loved ones sitting in the front.
- In the event of a crash, an unbelted rear passenger is launched forward like a cannonball.
- At the moment of impact, the force they exert on the front seat can increase to approximately 30 to 60 times their own weight. This can result in the death of even a front-seat driver who is buckled up.
- According to statistics, rear seatbelt use reduces the risk of death and serious injury by 25% to 75%.
Risk of Vehicle Ejection
The most terrifying consequence of not wearing a seatbelt is being ejected from the vehicle at the moment of impact.
- The probability of being ejected from the vehicle during a crash is 30 times higher for those who do not wear seatbelts compared to those who do.
- Unfortunately, 75% of victims ejected from the vehicle lose their lives at the scene. The seatbelt ensures your survival by keeping you inside the vehicle's safety cage (cabin).
Proper Seat Belt Usage
1. NEVER TWISTED: Don't Create a "Razor Effect"
Rule: The seatbelt strap must be completely flat from the moment it comes out of the reel to the buckle.
Why? A twisted or kinked belt cannot distribute the impact force over a wide surface area during a crash. The belt, turning into a thin strip, can cut into your body or cause serious tissue damage.
2. SHOULDER ALIGNMENT: Neither Touching Your Neck Nor Falling Off
Rule: The diagonal strap must pass exactly through the space between the shoulder and the neck (over the collarbone).
Mistake 1: If it is too close to the neck, it may apply pressure to the carotid artery or windpipe during a crash.
Mistake 2: If it is too close to the edge of the shoulder, the jolt may cause it to slip off the shoulder, leaving the body unrestrained.
3. BOTTOM STRAP ON THE PELVIS, NOT THE STOMACH
Rule: The lower part of the belt should never pass over the soft tissue of the abdomen (stomach area). The belt must sit on the Pelvis (Hips), one of the strongest bones in the body.
Why? A belt passing over the abdomen can cause internal bleeding in internal organs (liver, spleen, intestines) during a crash.
4. NO OBSTRUCTIONS IN BETWEEN: Pens, Keys, Phones...
Rule: There should be no hard objects (a pen in a shirt pocket, a phone/keys in a jacket pocket, etc.) between the belt and your body.
Why? The belt exerts tons of force during a crash. With this pressure, a small pen in between can pierce your body like a bullet.
5. DON'T FALL INTO THE "UNDERARM" TRAP
Rule: The diagonal strap should never be passed under the arm.
Why? In this position, the belt cannot protect the rib cage. It can cause your ribs to fracture and the broken bones to puncture the lungs or heart during a crash.
Seatbelt Usage for Pregnant Women
1. SHOULDER BELT
It should be away from the neck, but positioned so it does not slip off the shoulder. It must pass over the chest, between your breasts. All slack (looseness) in the belt must be removed.
2. LAP BELT
It must pass under the belly. It should go across the hips and pelvic bone, fitting snugly but comfortably.
3. SEAT ADJUSTMENT
The seat should be in a comfortable and upright position.
As much distance as possible should be left between your belly and the steering wheel. You must be able to reach the steering wheel and pedals comfortably. If you are a passenger, move your seat back as far as possible.
Leave as Much Distance as Possible from the Steering Wheel
Should I turn off the airbag?
No. Doctors recommend that pregnant women wear seatbelts and keep airbags enabled. Together, the seatbelt and airbag provide the best protection for both mother and baby.
Child Car Seat Usage and Details
1. Infancy Period (Approx. 40 cm - 87 cm)
Classification: Corresponds to the old "Infant Carrier" (Group 0+) class.
Height Range: Usually between 40-75 cm or 40-87 cm.
Direction: Used rear-facing only.
Feature: These are generally models with a carrying handle that can be attached to "travel system" strollers.
2. Toddler Period (Approx. 40 cm - 105 cm)
Classification: Corresponds to the old Group 1 (or 0+/1 combined) class.
- Height Range: Most models on the market are in the 40-105 cm (from birth) or 61-105 cm range.
- Critical Rule (15 Months): Rear-facing use is mandatory until the child is at least 15 months old (and usually 76 cm tall).
- Connection: The child is secured by the seat's own 5-point harness. The seat attaches to the vehicle via Isofix.
3. Childhood Period (100 cm - 150 cm)
Classification: Corresponds to the old Group 2/3 (Booster) class.
- Height Range: Between 100-150 cm (Approx. from age 4 to 12).
- Connection: The seat's own harness is no longer used. The child and the seat are secured together using the vehicle's 3-point seatbelt.
- Feature: Under the R129 standard (i-Size), seats in this category are required to have back support. The use of only a bottom cushion (booster cushion) is prohibited in R129 for children under 125 cm; high-back models are required for safety.
Traffic Regulation
In M1, M1G, N1, N1G, N2, and N3 class vehicles, the use of child restraint systems listed in Table (1) of the annex to this Regulation, suitable for the child's weight, is mandatory for the transport of children shorter than 150 cm and weighing less than 36 kg.However, children taller than 135 cm may use the seatbelts on other seats instead of child restraint systems, provided that they do not sit in the front seat.
Children under three years of age may not be transported in M1, M1G, N1, N1G, N2, and N3 class vehicles that do not have child restraint systems.
During travel in taxis, children are required to use child restraint systems; if none are available, they are required to sit in the rear seat.
References
WHO 2023 – World Health Organization, road safety materials regarding the effectiveness of seats and seatbelts.
EC Thematic Report – European Road Safety Observatory, Thematic Report on Seat belt and child restraint systems.
Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Security – Use of Child Car Seats.
NHTSA – Seat Belt Use for Pregnant Women.
UN Regulation No 129 – Increasing the safety of children in vehicles.
Gallery
Generated by AI from referenced sources.