Do you think that airplane seatbelts have saved a lot of lives?

Question

Do you think that airplane seatbelts have saved a lot of lives?

Answer 1

They most certainly prevent serious injuries during severe turbulence.

Answer 2

I think so for a few people...possibly a few survivors in the past : )

Answer 3

They have certainly saved a lot of injuries.  The most common airplane "accident" occurs when people are injured because they are not belted in during turbulence.

Even in the rare event of a crash, most crashes are survivable.  The single largest cause of fatalities is because of post-impact smoke and fire.  Without a seat belt on, the injuries would be severe enough that you would have no chance of making your way out of the plane.

If you want to increase your own chances of survival, keep your seat belt fastened and know how to find and open the two nearest exits blindfolded.

Answer 4

I don't know that they're meant to save your life in the event of a crash from full flying height...

But in cases of extreme turbulence and crash landings I would definitely want one on, yes.

Answer 5

Oh yes,airplane seat belts has saved a lot of lives.

Although by regulation,the passengers should wear seat belts during takeoff and landings,it is the pilot's discretion to turn them on anytime during flight.

So during turbulence most of the pilots make their passengers wear their passengers seat belts which definitely has saved lives.Think about all the elderly,fragile or younger passengers hitting their head left and right during flight!

What a terrible thought!

Answer 6

Theyre not for the crashes, its so you dont break you leg during turbulence, it can get pretty rough. If you were standing up and plane suddenly dropped, you could bang your neck/head pretty hard.

Answer 7

Taking into consideration that a plane travels a helluva lot

faster than a car, then no would be my answer.Don`t forget

that a plane is bigger and heavier and also faster so it will make a bigger mess if it crashes into the ground.

Answer 8

not really if you know anything about flying its the risk you take theres no airbag

Answer 9

not sure about saving lives but saving you from concussion if there is bad turbulance.

Answer 10

well if elf nd saftey say they do, they 'obviously' must help!!

not really sure about my opinion though!!

Answer 11

Not lives, but they have saved many people from hitting their heads in heavy turbulence.

Answer 12

YES

During abnormal air turbulance where the aircraft plummets 1000's of feet in a short time.

Many other crashes on the ground have kept passengers from flying around the cabin

Answer 13

Yes, undoubtedly. Not only in crashes, but also in turbulence and even in taxiing. I have seen idiots stand up to get out of the aircraft on B-747's that were not yet at the gate, with the seat belt sign still on, get thrown around when the aircraft turned. Without seat belts everyone would be thrown around whenever the aircraft turned.

Regards,

Dan

Answer 14

If you're talking small plane and solely lap belts, probably not.  When a plane with lap belts in the front seat hits the ground, the tendency is for the yoke to hit the pilot in the chest, which is generally fatal.  Seat belts with a shoulder strap, or even better, the new regular car type seat belts prevent this from happening.  If the aircraft hits the ground at a slow enough speed and the energy is dissipated slowly, and the pilot is wearing a lap belt and shoulder belt, there's a good chance of survival.

If you're talking large transport category aircraft like the airlines fly, yes, without a doubt.  If the major cause of fatalities during a crash is blunt trauma, no a seat belt won't save you.  However, in terms of impact, the majority of aircraft accidents are survivable; in fact, fire and smoke inhalation causes most fatalities after the impact itself.  Wearing a seat belt on a commercial flight can definitely save your life.  

Also, seat belts can definitely save lives on a commercial airliner during turbulence.  There are documented fatalities (e.g., United 826) on airliners during severe turbulence.  And remember, you're at a relatively large risk of being involved in an accident during taxi as well as in the air.

Answer 15

Being a Line mech for many years + accompanying flight mechanic most of my life, I could say seatbelts have saved a lot of heads from banging to the overhead stowage bin.

Answer 16

Actually they do.

If the plane crash lands at 250 miles per hour and you are not putting on a seat belt your head will hit the wall at a very dangerous speed and that will leave you dead.

If you are sitting on a chair and buckled up the safety belt will keep you on the chair.

Answer 17

I agree... They're not for the crashes. They're designed for turbulence etc. If they were designed for a crash, engineers would have fitted 5 point harnesses. They would also face the seats in the opposite direction of travel to minimize the sudden forward momentum of the body. But im sure both of these points would never be put into effect. Nobody wants to be secured into a seat for 10 hours long haul and nobody wants to travel backwards!

Answer 18

NO!!!