The World Needs a Little Restraint

Seatbelts and airbags—love ’em or hate ’em, but they save lives.

Can you guess what the single most important safety technology in modern vehicles is? Automatic emergency braking? Lane-keeping assist? Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving? Nah, it’s likely the seatbelt.

Yes, you heard that right. That lowly three-point seatbelt, that 2-inch-by-7-feet-long strip of tight webbing that you (hopefully) pull over your shoulder and across your lap every time you get into a vehicle. You hear the satisfying click as you slide the metal tongue neatly into the buckle, and as the belt retracts slightly and snuggles across your chest, this simple act means you’re ready to roll, literally.