Are Seatbelts important? Seatbelts save many lives every year. They introduced the use of seat belts in automobiles did not begin in earnest until the mid to late 1950's. In 1955, the actor James Dean …show more content…
died in a 2 vehicles car crash in Southern California desert. Some say he would have survived had he been wearing his seat belt during the crash.
The Federal Government made automakers install automatic restraint systems. This also included the use of shoulder harnesses on the rails and slots that would automatically slide in place when you get ready to start your car. In 1955 a Swedish automaker Volvo was the first manufacturer to make seat belt systems as regular equipment in its cars. In the 1970s the Federal Government required automakers to make automatic restraint systems. This involved the use of shoulder harnesses on rails and slots which would automatically slide into place when the driver has started the car. Along with the seat belts, air bags have been on the rise to. Air bags have reduced the number of fatal and serious automobile injuries in vehicular accidents greatly, particularly in the highway accidents involving higher speeds. In the 1980s American automakers and buckle suppliers began a campaign to develop a seat belt buckle with a tongue ejects feature and a release push button on the end of the buckle, rather than on the side or the top. The next 20 years, the auto industry and federal governments campaign for seat belt laws to be passed in all 50 states. Reports from NHTSA
that fatal motor-vehicle accidents rates have dramatically reduced since the seat belt laws have been enforced by state legislatures. On 31 January, 1983 it became compulsory for the drivers and passengers to wear seat belts for the next three-years. More than half of the drivers complied with it at that time and still do. In 1987 the fitted seat belts to new cars. In 2009 the survey says that 95% of car drivers wear their seat belts, 96% of front seat car passengers wear seat belts or use child car restraints, and 89% of rear seat car passengers either wear a seat belt or use child car restraints.