The primary purpose of seat belts is to

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Seat belts are designed to restrain you in a crash, keeping you inside the vehicle and preventing dangerous contact with the interior or ejection. When a collision happens, the car can stop quickly, but your body tends to keep moving due to inertia. A seat belt applies a controlled stopping force across your pelvis and upper body, reducing the risk of serious injuries by limiting how far you fly forward and by spreading the force over stronger body parts. It also helps position you correctly for airbags, which work best when you’re strapped in. They don’t change the car’s speed, improve fuel efficiency, or enhance styling.