When the body is not properly supported by the belt (loose or ill-fitting), it pushes the seat down and it slides under the lap belt. Increases the risk of colliding with the steering wheel, the dashboard or the lower part of the passenger compartment. Injuries to the back and pelvis, fracture of the femur or the head of the femur, as well as serious internal bleeding, can occur.
This poor seat belt fastening that interferes with safety is known as the underwater effect, and it has a lot to do with the position a driver has in the vehicle seat.
What is the way to avoid this effect? It is necessary to check beforehand that the belt is correctly positioned and fastened. In addition, it is important that the body is well placed on the seat, that there are no possibilities of slipping.
In this way, it is necessary to avoid placing towels or pillows on the seat, since this can pose a danger to road safety, as well as that the belt does not have slack that does not hold the driver well in the event of an impact.
Another thing to take into account is that this effect is more dangerous for the driver, due to the possible impact against the steering wheel, but not only for him, since it can also be applied to other passengers who are not seated. properly or do not make good use of the belt.