Why Do Seatbelts Increase Stopping Distance?

416 Words1 Page

Collisions Breaking distance To avoid collisions you need to understand stopping distance. • Thinking distance - the time taken to react by a driver. During reaction time the car continues moving. • Thinking distance - distance travelled before the driver realises to brake. • Braking distance - distance taken to stop. Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance Factors that increase stopping distance Thinking distance: • speeding • tiredness • alcohol and drugs Alcohol is a depressant because it slows down the central nervous system. This causes a decrease in motor coordination, reaction time and intellectual performance. If high amounts are consumed the respiratory system slows down drastically also which can lead to death. …show more content…

The stopping distance is increased the faster the speed. Effectiveness of seat belts Seat belts are designed to restrain the person if they get involved in a crash. Since it was made compulsory to wear seat belts the fatality rates have halved and so have the risk of serious injury. Teenagers have the highest chance of being killed when not wearing seat belts which is 67 %. A study in 2009 found: Drivers of cars and vans found seat belts to be 50% effective against fatal injuries, 45% effective against serious injuries and 25% effective against minor injuries. Front seat passengers found seat belts to be 45% effective against fatal injuries, 45% effective against serious injuries, and 20% effective against minor injuries. Rear seat passenger’s found seat belts to be 25% effective against fatal injuries, 25% effective against serious injuries and 20% effective against minor injuries. Though lap belts are effective enough to prevent serious injuries and death, three point seat belts are almost one and half times better at preventing deaths and serious

Open Document