Different Types of Seat Belts and How They Work

As we have commented in the introduction, the seat belt is a device that protects the passenger in a car accident. It is essential to consider that in the event of a collision, the moving vehicle causes passengers to be displaced from the seat in the forward direction.

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This impact carries great danger, as passengers can be thrown from the windshield glass or hit the front seats when seated behind. These impacts often lead, in the best of cases, serious injuries. For this reason, when we have a seat belt, we significantly reduce the risk of injury and death in the event of an accident at the wheel.

Among the types of seat belts that can be found today, most of them are classified according to the lashing points. That is, the fastening points that secure the passenger in the seat in which he is. They are as follows.

• Two-point belt: this is the seat belt that is commonly found on airplanes or some buses. It is characterized by being held on both sides of the hips. This makes it not the safest of all, as it can cause separation of the lumbar spine in some accidents.
• Three-point belt - This belt was invented by Volvo in 1959 and is considered one of the safest belts even today. This belt starts from the two anchors mentioned above points and includes a third attachment point above one of the passenger's shoulders. In this way, the risk of separation of the lumbar spine is avoided.
• Four-point belt: this type of seat belt constitutes a harness in itself. Combine the lateral supports of the hips with individual supports on the shoulders.
• Five-point belt: These are the same as four-point belts, but, in this case, an additional point of attachment is added between the legs, which increases safety by being considerably more restrictive. They are mainly used in children's seats and competition vehicles.

In addition to the point-denominated seat belts, there are other similar typologies. The most common include.

• X-belt: this is a seat belt usually used to complement the three-point belt common in cars. The X-belt is made up of two anchors that are placed diagonally over the passenger, creating the final appearance of the letter X, from which it is named.
• Automatic seat belts: they are currently in disuse, as they presented problems in the event of a vehicle breakdown or if the door was not correctly closed. While it is true that they had the advantage of requiring less collaboration from the passenger, they were not as effective as expected, which is why they ended up being discarded.
• Ergonomic belts: this is an extensive type of belt, since, currently, it has more than 70 models on the market. This type of seatbelt adapts to the passenger's physiognomy. The most common are those that, like a girdle, hold the passenger around the abdominal perimeter.

If you have ever taken your pet in a car, you will know that animals tend to move and be restless during the journey, since it is not a place where they feel particularly comfortable.

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Seat belts for dogs are not only a great option to keep them still and out of the way for the driver, but they are also an essential tool to ensure their safety and prevent severe injuries in the event of an accident.

• If your dog is small: if your pet is small, he can travel in a dog carrier without problems.
• If your dog is large (10 kg or more): If your dog is otherwise too large to fit in a carrier, you should seat him in the rear seats with a unique double anchor harness that is attached to the seat belts of the own car.

Adapted and translated by The Cop Cart Staff

Sources: Uncomo