至尊英语阅读资料之汽车专题第262集.pdfVIP

Automotive articles 262 [6526]Preventable Deaths Caused by Defective Seat Belts Seat belts have the ability to better protect vehicle occupants from fatal accidents than anything else. According to federal statistics, in 2003, the use of seat belts saved nearly 15,000 lives nationwide. However, even more than 6,000 deaths per year are related to the improper use -- or the failure to use -- the proper seat belt restraints during a car crash. Seat belts save more than lives - they save the nation money. Every year, seat belts save society approximately $50 billion in medical care, lost productivity and other injury-related costs nationwide. But seat belt failure has tremendous costs. Seat Belt Defects - More Common Than You Think Though the national average for seat belt use is at a high of 71 percent, due mainly to a $3.7 million campaign often known as the Click it or Ticket, in which seat belt usage is encouraged, although the often overlooked statistic is the 10,000 deaths out of 30,000 auto accidents caused by faulty seat belts. These numbers are not reflective of individuals harmed or killed because of faulty seat belts. In fact, each year a number of car companies recall automobiles due to defects in seat belt design. What is referred to as a second collision is usually associated with an individual being at less of a risk while wearing a seat belt. The first collision is when the vehicle makes an impact with another vehicle or object. The driver or passenger of the vehicle is either ejected from the vehicle or is injured because of impact with a cars interior, which occurs in the second collision. Seat belt use helps protect a cars occupants from fatal second collisions with a vehicles windshield, steering wheel, or roof. Defective seat belts may not properly restrain occupants of a vehicle due to poor manufacturing or design. These malfunctions include: . Inertial unlatching, which takes place when a seat belt becomes unlatched durin