What is a potential consequence of not using seat belts?

Choosing not to use seat belts significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a crash. Seat belts are designed to secure occupants in their seats, reducing the likelihood of being ejected from the vehicle or colliding violently with the interior surfaces during a collision. In many cases, wearing a seat belt has been proven to save lives and mitigate injury severity.

The physics behind this is straightforward: seat belts help to restrain the body's movement during sudden deceleration, while also spreading the forces of a crash over stronger parts of the body, like the chest and pelvis. Without a seat belt, a passenger is more likely to suffer from critical injuries as the body continues to move forward at the same speed as the vehicle until it encounters an external force.

In contrast, while receiving a ticket for not wearing a seat belt, loss of car insurance coverage, or increased fuel costs may have associated implications, they do not directly relate to the immediate and grave physical consequences that arise from failing to buckle up.