1997 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual - Page 21

I A CALION: It is extremelydangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in theseareas aremore likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow peopleto ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone inyour vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here's why: They work. You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes aremild, and some crashes can so be serious that even buckled up a person wouldn't survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 25 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts areclear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ...a lot! Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See "Safety Belt Reminder Light" in the Index .) Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. 1-13