A 3-minute lesson from the Louisiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
A crash is really three collisions: the car hits something, you hit the inside of the car, and your organs hit the inside of your body. The laws of physics decide how hard each hit is, and restraints and careful driving are how you manage that force.
The three collisions:
Your car hits something; even at 30 mph it's badly damaged and absorbs only part of the force
You hit the car; unbelted, you're thrown into the windshield, dashboard or steering wheel
Your organs hit your skull, ribs and bones, causing many internal injuries
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Two crashing cars feel equal force, but the lighter car's velocity changes more, so it takes more damage.
A full-size SUV and a small hatchback collide. Both feel the same force, but the hatchback's speed changes far more, so it suffers more damage and its occupants are more likely to be hurt.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
A driver who is not wearing a safety belt during a crash is most likely to:
Stay in place as the car absorbs the force
Be pushed back into the seat
Hit the windshield, dash, or wheel
Be fully protected by the air bag
Answer: Hit the windshield, dash, or wheel
Without a belt, the body continues moving until stopped by something inside the car, such as the windshield or dashboard.