Seat belts are designed to secure passengers against harmful movement experienced in a collision. They reduced the risk of passengers striking the interior of the vehicle, colliding with other passengers and from being thrown out of the vehicle.

A properly worn seat belt greatly increases your chances of surviving a vehicle collision. When a seat belt is worn correctly, it stops forces across the chest and pelvis, which are able to withstand collision forces.

The seat belt should fit snugly. The lap belt should go under your belly, across your hips and pelvis but never across your stomach, especially if you are pregnant. The shoulder belt should be positioned across the chest and collarbone, but never against the front of your face and neck or under the arms. Adjust the height of the shoulder belt so that it fits you correctly. Sit upright, with the seatback straight, as seat belts cannot work if the seatback is reclined or if your back is away from the seat.

A seat belt should not be worn twisted, as the full width of the belt is needed to withstand the force of the crash. Some drivers and passengers loosely strap their seat belts without actually buckling up. This is a risky act as wearing a seat belt loosely or placing the shoulder belt under the arm instead of across the chest could be as dangerous as not wearing one at all.

Parents need to ensure that their children are properly secured with a seat belt. Children are most vulnerable during collision as they will be thrown out due to their light body weight. Take note that seat belts do not adequately protect infants and toddlers and they require a child car seat or booster seat.

From time to time, rear seat passengers were killed or seriously injured because they had not used their seat belts. Thus, aside from following traffic signs and obeying the rules on the road, wearing your seat belt may be the most dramatic move you can make to reduce such risks. Always remember to wear your seatbelt and ensure that everyone in the car belts up, including rear passengers.