The statement 'If your car is equipped with an airbag, you do not need to wear your seatbelt' is:

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends on the model
• D. Only for side airbags

Answer: (B)

Airbags are a supplemental restraint system, designed to work with a seatbelt, not to replace it. In a crash, the seatbelt holds you in the correct position and slows your body’s forward momentum, while the airbag cushions your upper body to reduce impact with hard surfaces. If you aren’t wearing a seatbelt, you can be thrown toward the airbag or other interior parts, or even ejected from the vehicle, which can cause far more severe injuries than if you were restrained. Airbags deploy quickly and with great force, and they work best when you’re buckled to keep you in the safe path and in proper distance from the airbag. So the statement is false: you must wear your seatbelt even if your car has airbags. In Tennessee and many other places, keeping the belt fastened is required by law for all occupants.