Why Seat Belts Should Be Worn
History
The first seat belt was invented in 1885 by a man named E.J. Claghorn. This first seatbelt
was a simple lap belt. Although not very sophisticated, this simple lap belt still saved tons of
people. However, seat belts had a rough start. People did not want to use them and they were not
mandatory in most cars back in 1885.
Some major brands of cars believed that in the event of an accident the seat belt would
tear you in half. This was obviously false. Others believed that seat belts should be mandatory in
cars considering the amount of deaths caused because of cars. (Safty Belts) “Tests in the 1940s
showed that severe head injuries could be reduced if car occupants were restrained by lap belts.”
(Safty Belts) …show more content…
Inertia is the resistance to a change in speed or direction of travel. Momentum is the
quantity of motion of a moving body. A seat belt is meant to stop the moving body when the car
suddenly stops too, instead of ejecting the body from the car. It spreads out the force of a sudden
stop on the body preventing ejection. (How does a Seatbelt Work)
How Effective is it
About 21,002 people die in motor accidents a year. More than half of those people were
not wearing seatbelts. (Seat Belts: Get the facts) Seatbelts have 45-60% effectiveness. Seatbelts
are the most effective way to prevent death during a motor accident. Nearly 300,000 lives have
been saved because of seatbelts since 1975 in just the U.S. In 2014 seatbelts saved 12,802 lives.
If seat belts can save that many lives I would say that they are remarkably effective and people
should have them on at all times while in a car. The amount of deaths on the road is significantly
smaller than when seat belts were not required. This shows simply how effective seat belts are
they save lives. Someone in your life may be even saved because they were wearing their
seatbelt.
The first seat belt was invented in 1885 by a man named E.J. Claghorn. This first seatbelt
was a simple lap belt. Although not very sophisticated, this simple lap belt still saved tons of
people. However, seat belts had a rough start. People did not want to use them and they were not
mandatory in most cars back in 1885.
Some major brands of cars believed that in the event of an accident the seat belt would
tear you in half. This was obviously false. Others believed that seat belts should be mandatory in
cars considering the amount of deaths caused because of cars. (Safty Belts) “Tests in the 1940s
showed that severe head injuries could be reduced if car occupants were restrained by lap belts.”
(Safty Belts) …show more content…
Inertia is the resistance to a change in speed or direction of travel. Momentum is the
quantity of motion of a moving body. A seat belt is meant to stop the moving body when the car
suddenly stops too, instead of ejecting the body from the car. It spreads out the force of a sudden
stop on the body preventing ejection. (How does a Seatbelt Work)
How Effective is it
About 21,002 people die in motor accidents a year. More than half of those people were
not wearing seatbelts. (Seat Belts: Get the facts) Seatbelts have 45-60% effectiveness. Seatbelts
are the most effective way to prevent death during a motor accident. Nearly 300,000 lives have
been saved because of seatbelts since 1975 in just the U.S. In 2014 seatbelts saved 12,802 lives.
If seat belts can save that many lives I would say that they are remarkably effective and people
should have them on at all times while in a car. The amount of deaths on the road is significantly
smaller than when seat belts were not required. This shows simply how effective seat belts are
they save lives. Someone in your life may be even saved because they were wearing their
seatbelt.