Being thrown free from a vehicle involved in a collision is how many times more dangerous than being restrained by a seat belt and harness?

• A. 10x
• B. 25x
• C. 50x
• D. 100x

Answer: (B)

Being thrown free in a crash is vastly more dangerous because you lose the protective barrier of the vehicle and are exposed to direct impact with the road, other objects, and debris. A seat belt and harness keep you inside the vehicle and spread the crash forces across stronger parts of the body, helping prevent catastrophic injuries. Data consistently show that being ejected is about twenty-five times more likely to result in fatal injury than staying restrained. The restraint’s effectiveness in preventing ejection and moderating forces is why this difference is so large. Ten times is too low, while fifty or a hundred times overstate the typical risk based on established safety data.