Sun Feb 05 2023 10:09:47 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time) - QikTruck Media
Are you aware of the essential role wearing a seatbelt plays in keeping you and your family safe while driving? Seatbelts are a basic and essential safety feature of any car and are designed to protect you in the event of a car crash. Despite this, many drivers and passengers in South Africa still choose not to wear them as they drive. The consequences can be fatal when a crash happens. Read on to learn what makes wearing a seatbelt so critical—and why it can save your life.
Seatbelts are the primary form of restraint system for passengers in vehicles. When worn correctly and securely fastened around your hips and chest, it keeps you securely in charge. This is what allows airbags inside your car to protect your head and upper body in case of a crash.
Research into seatbelt safety has shown that they reduce the chance of deadly injury in a crash by 50%.1 For those of us living in South Africa, the situation becomes even more alarming when we look at statistics that show South Africa is one of the countries with the highest rates of seatbelt non-compliance in the world.2
It is important to understand that wearing a seatbelt is so important in keeping you safe in South Africa’s roads which often include other vehicles that don’t observe traffic rules, sudden stops, and more. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a crash leads to the death of a pedestrian or motorcyclist every second.3
So, in South Africa, where proper seatbelts have been mandatory since 1996, adhering to wearing a seatbelt is so important for keeping you and your family safe whenever you drive. And when considering other factors such as the number of existing vehicles on the roads, more and more people wearing a seatbelt could help reduce the number of fatal crashes significantly.
Scientists researching the role of seatbelts in car crashes have found that in 75% of fatal crashes, the occupants were either partially or completely ejected from the car.4 This means that even if the car wasn’t totaled, if the occupant of the car is quickly ejected, the chances of survival are significantly decreased.
But wearing a seatbelt prevents many of these violent ejections. This is because when worn correctly it holds you in place whenever the car stops suddenly or is involved in a crash. This makes sure you stay in the car, where you’ll have more protection from the airbags and other car components.
Even if you manage to stay in the car after a crash, serious injury can still occur if you weren’t wearing a seatbelt. Scientists studying the issue discovered that an average of 65% of drivers admitted to a hospital suffered from chest and abdominal injuries in car crashes.5
But when wearing a seatbelt, the chances of serious injury are significantly reduced. This is because the belt takes the impact of the crash and distributes it over a larger area of the upper body. In addition, with a correctly worn seatbelt, any high forces will be absorbed by the shoulder strap, therefore reducing the intensity on your body in case of a crash.
Wearing a seatbelt should not be considered an inconvenience. Failing to properly wear a seatbelt can put you at risk in the event of an accident. Wearing a correctly secure seatbelt is just one of the many steps you can take to ensure that you and your passengers are as safe as possible while driving.
Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory in South Africa, but did you know that there is also a crucial need for safety when it comes to proper loading and secure hauling of goods and materials?
At QikTruck we make sure your goods remain safe and sound when transported from point A to point B. We work with well trained drivers who have extensive experience in the field and guarantee a safe trip for your goods. We offer competitive prices for truck and driver hires so that you can get a high-quality, reliable transport solution you can rely on.
Whether you need a small truck for domestic transport jobs or a larger one for commercial projects, QikTruck and its network of drivers are here to help. What’s more, our quick and easy booking process lets you book your transport in minutes and our features like real-time tracking and proof of delivery helps you keep tabs on your cargo at all times.
So don’t gamble with your safety on the roads, make sure you buckle up and use QikTruck for all of your transport needs.