What happens to passengers who have not fastened their seat belts with an airbag system, all vehicle occupants, in- cluding the driver, must fasten their seat belt and wear it correctly while the vehicle is in motion. This reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident - regardless of whether an airbag is available. Please refer to at the start of the chapter on page 34. An airbag can only be triggered once. To achieve best possible protection, seat belts must always be worn properly. This also ensures that protec- tion is provided in accidents in which the airbag is not triggered.
Any vehicle occupant not wear- ing a seat belt can be thrown out of the vehicle and sustain even more severe or even fatal inju- ries as a result. It is also essential for rear passengers to wear seat belts properly, as they could otherwise be thrown forward violently in an accident. Rear passengers who are not wearing seat belts en- danger not only themselves and the driver, but also other people in the vehicle → Fig. 29 . Fig. 28 An unbelted driver is thrown forward. Seat belts protect Please refer to at the start of the chapter on page 34. Fig. 29 The unbelted rear passenger is thrown for- ward violently, hitting the belted driver.
Many people believe that they can brace their weight with their hands in a minor collision. This is not true. Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great that occupants cannot brace themselves with their arms and hands. In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers are thrown forward and will make unchecked contact with parts of the vehicle interior, e.g. the steering wheel, dash panel, or windscreen → Fig. 28 . Fig. 30 Driver restrained by a properly positioned seat belt during a sudden braking manoeuvre. Correctly fastened seat belts can make a major difference.
When fastened properly, seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting positions and considerably reduce the kinetic en- ergy in the event of an accident. Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements that could lead to severe injuries. Additionally, wear- ing seat belts properly reduces the risk of being thrown from the vehicle → Fig. 30 . 25A.5L1.POL.20 The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When triggered, airbags only provide addi- tional protection. Airbags are not triggered in all kinds of accidents. Even if the vehicle is equipped Safety 37