Alberta Class 7 License Practice Test

How does wearing a seatbelt affect your safety while driving?

1. It is optional and not very helpful

2. It only protects the driver

3. It increases your chance of surviving an accident

4. It can make it harder to exit the vehicle

The correct answer is: It increases your chance of surviving an accident

Wearing a seatbelt significantly increases your chance of surviving an accident because it is designed to keep you securely in your seat during a collision. Seatbelts prevent you from being thrown forward, which is one of the most common causes of injury or death in a crash. By restraining your body, a seatbelt helps spread the forces of a collision over stronger parts of your body, reducing the risk of severe injury. They also minimize the likelihood of deceleration injuries by keeping occupants within the protective confines of the vehicle. In terms of accident statistics, numerous studies have shown that seatbelts reduce the severity of injuries and the likelihood of fatalities in crashes. They protect not only the driver but also passengers in the vehicle, as all occupants should be buckled in to enhance overall safety. While it may seem that seatbelts could make exiting a vehicle more challenging in certain situations, the importance of safety during a crash far outweighs this concern, particularly since it ensures that individuals stay in place during an impact. Therefore, understanding the critical role of seatbelts is essential for safe driving practices.