2009 Cadillac Escalade Owner's Manual - Page 40

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I am wearing a safety belt? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in a crash - even one that is not your fault - you and your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. A: You could be - whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts - not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-34