Seatbelt Safety

A seatbelt is a strap in a car that keeps you in your seat. Seatbelts are there to protect you if the car stops quickly or crashes. Every time you get in a car, you should buckle up. This is the most important rule of car safety.

How Seatbelts Work

Seatbelts hold your body in place during a crash. Without one, you could be thrown forward and get hurt. The belt goes across your lap and over your shoulder. It should fit snug against your body. Never put the shoulder strap behind your back.

Booster Seats

Kids are often too small for regular seatbelts. A booster seat lifts you up so the belt fits right. Most kids need a booster until they are about 4 feet 9 inches tall. Always sit in the back seat if you are under 13. The back seat is the safest place for kids.

Fun Facts

• Seatbelts save about 15,000 lives every year in the United States.
• The first seatbelts were made in the 1800s for horse carriages.
• It is against the law to not wear a seatbelt in most states.

Did You Know?

A doctor named Nils Bohlin invented the modern three-point seatbelt in 1959 while working for Volvo.