Road safety should never be left to chance. Prevention saves lives. Even the most skilled drivers cannot control every situation on the road. That is why it is essential to take every possible precaution to reduce risk.
Seat belt use is essential in every seat of the car and on every trip, to ensure that occupants remain in their seats.
1. The lower part of the belt must pass over the hips and not over the abdomen.
2. The upper part must run diagonally and pass over the collarbone (not over the neck, shoulder or armpit).
3. It must be taut along its full length.
4. It must fit well against the body, without too many layers of clothing between the belt and the body.
Unrestrained passengers in the rear seats are NOT safer. They usually get injured themselves, while also injuring the people in front of them. The same applies to both children and adults.
Children must sit in a child car seat suitable for their height and weight until their body size allows them to wear the seat belt correctly (height: 1.50 m).
Approximately 900 road traffic deaths per year could be prevented in the EU if 99% of car occupants/drivers wore a seat belt.
A helmet must be an integral part of the equipment for every vehicle from which a fall may occur. It protects the head and, by extension, the brain, which can be injured even by a low-speed impact.
A motorcyclist is at approximately 16 times higher risk of being involved in a fatal road crash. Passengers face an equally high risk as riders.
A helmet reduces brain injuries by 72% and mortality by 40%.
Prefer a full-face helmet. Approximately 1/3 of head impacts are to the chin area.
