1996 GMC Jimmy Owner's Manual - Page 22

Here Are Questions Many People Ask Q.' If I'm a good driver, andI never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? About Safety Bel i -- and the Answers A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you're in an &: Won't I be trapped in the vehicleafter an accident if I'm wearing a safety belt? A: You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety belt or not.But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you're upside down. And your chance of being conscious duringand after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. accident -- even one that isn't your fault -- you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn't protect you from thingsbeyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occurwithin 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occurat speeds of less than 40 mph (65 kmh). Safety belts are for everyone. &.' If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future.But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts -- not instead of them. Every air bag system ever offered for sale required the use of has safety belts. Even if you're in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to getthe most protection. That's true not only in frontal collisions, but especiallyin side and other collisions. 1-11