1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 18

In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here's why: They work. It is extremely dangerous to ride incargo area, a inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be to seriously injured orkilled. Do not allow people ride in any areaof your vehicle that isnot equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat andusing a safety belt properly. You never knowif you'll be in a crash. If you have a do crash, you don't know it will be a bad one. if A few crashesare mild, and some crashes can be so 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 than25 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling does up 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 inor on anything, yougo as fast as it goes.