Little Things

Little
Things

Little
things, they can be the difference between life and death in a
serious motor vehicle accident. Most young drivers never understand
or give much thought as to why and how these little things transform
into big things during a serious accident. Let’s examine one of
these little things and how a little understanding and education, can
expand our perspective and attitudes of roadway safety.

When
we first get into the driver’s seat, we have all received ample
training and education on seat belt safety, but what are some of the
little things that have just happened? First, once the seat belt is
engaged, the cars on-board computer has now recognized that the seat
belt is in operation. The little thing is that the car computer has
now understood that it has options in the event of a motor vehicle
crash. Most young drivers do not understand that car computers make
decisions in micro seconds during a car crash. Depending on the speed
of the vehicle, and other factors, the cars accelerometer will relay
vital information to the car computer. Based on this information, the
computer can make decisions. It can do nothing, it can activate the
seat belt pretensioner, but not the airbag, or the computer may
decide to activate both the seatbelt pretensioner and deploy the
airbag. These safety features can make a big difference between life
and death. But again, most young drivers do not understand the amount
of technology and engineering that goes into these safety features,
but all this technology starts with the little thing of connecting
the seat belt to the buckle. Without this little connection, we have
limited the decisions that our car computers can make and thereby
limited our chance of survival.

Sometimes, it is just a
little tidbit of information that truly gets a person thinking. This
little bit of information can be so fascinating and provide an
understanding of system that is complex, yet has always been
understood as simple. This changes the way you look at things. This
change of attitude is possible when a young driver really understands
what actually happens once that seat belt is engaged. This knowledge
and education can transform the way a young driver looks at a vehicle
seat belt system and how that system interacts with a vehicle. A
vehicle that is now understood as actually thinking and applying
options in micro-seconds in an attempt to save your life. This whole
new perspective of the cars safety features acting collectively will
encourage young drivers to complete that little task of engaging the
seatbelt.

By
educating young drivers on the fascinating technology that is
actually within a modern vehicle and how that vehicle needs that
driver to engage that seatbelt to apply these features, it is hoped
that young drivers will fully understand the importance of the seat
belt system. This understanding and education will in turn, reduce
highway fatalities. I will always encourage use and engage a seat
belt system.