1998 Chevrolet Venture Owner's Manual - Page 49

It is extremelydangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In acollision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats andsafety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. Your vehicle hasa light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See "Safety Belt Reminder Light" in the Index.) 1 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 ifit will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious thateven buckled up a person wouldn't survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckleup can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ...a lot! 1-36