What might occur if a driver doesn't wear a seat belt while relying only on airbags?

Relying solely on airbags for protection during a collision is inadequate, as airbags are designed to work in conjunction with seat belts. If a driver does not wear a seat belt, they may be at a higher risk of serious injury or death during an accident.

In a crash, an unbelted person can be thrown forward, potentially hitting the steering wheel, windshield, or other parts of the vehicle with significant force. Airbags deploy only after a certain threshold is reached, usually when the vehicle decelerates rapidly; therefore, if a person isn’t restrained by a seat belt, they may not be in the correct position for the airbags to provide the necessary protection.

This interaction emphasizes the importance of seat belts, as they help keep passengers in the proper position for airbags to be effective and also reduce the likelihood of ejection from the vehicle. Consequently, the risk of serious injury or fatality heightens dramatically for those who neglect to wear seat belts, reinforcing critical safety practices in vehicle operation.