Al-Ozaibi, L., Adnan, J., Hassan, B., Al-Mazroui, A., Al-Badri, F. (2016). “Seat belt syndrome: Delayed or missed intestinal injuries, a case report and review of literature.” International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. Volume 20. Pages 74-76.

Background: This article contains real life medical reports of injuries caused by seatbelts, including the medical images and diagnosis. It also lists specific afflictions caused by the force of seat belts in car accidents. Death is listed as a possible outcome.

How I Used It: This source was used to review and research multiple case studies. Real life medical reports and images were included in this piece. Internal injuries were noted and caused by the use of seat belts. Medical diagnosis was included to support the idea that seat belts can actually hurt instead of protect the occupants of motor vehicles in car accidents.

Azam, T. (2022, March 16). “Do Motorcycles Have Seat Belts.” 

Background: This piece gave information on comparing motorcycles and cars and why motorcycle riders do not use seat belts. It further goes into detail how motorcycle riders use other mechanisms to stay safe on the roadway by using hand signals and checking their blind spots multiple times before changing lanes.

How I Used It: In my paper I used a comparison to motorcycles to show that there are vehicles that do not use seat belts and are still safe on the road because of the driver’s behaviors and safety techniques. This article supports that concept and shows how motorcycles still reman safe. The article was utilized to support the idea that seat belts are not safe to be installed in motorcycles or motor vehicles.

Bieber, C. “Distracted Driving Statistics & Facts in 2023.” February 23, 2023.

Background: This article describes types of distracted driving along with numerous statistics regarding death and injuries caused by the same. The list contains usual cell phone use, texting, talking on the phone, and listening to loud music which all contributes to distracted driving, leading to reckless driving.

How I Used It: This article was utilized to support the portion of my paper that dealt with driving behaviors. Distracted driving is a poor driving behavior that causes numerous accidents. As a main theme of my paper, the use of the mechanical device of the seatbelt is harmful and the true means of safe driving is actually the safe practices of the driver. Statistics on distracted driving supported my theme.

Bishop, L. “Car Accident Statistics: Fatalities, Injuries and Top Risk Factors.” March 28, 2023.

Background: This article discusses the number and causes of car accidents, including the number of deaths and injuries throughout the entire country. The statistics in this article covered the entire country, not just our region.

How I Used It: I used this article to support my position that the main cause of accidents and their resulting deaths and injuries is poor driving, not the failure to use seat belts. The statistic that I utilized from this article dealt with distracted driving.

Chandler, R. (2018, April 3). “7 Reasons Motorcycle Riders Make Better Car Drivers.” 

Background: This article describes in detail the ways in which motorcycle riders drive safely to protect themselves on the roadway. Motorcyclists use hand signals, keep their head lights on even during the day, and do multiple blind spot checks.

How I Used It: I utilized this article to further emphasize that operators of motor vehicles can incorporate the same methods of motorcycle riders to stay safe on the roadway. I also utilized this article to show how motorcycle riders stay more alert on the road because they do not have the false sense of security that motor vehicle drivers develop from the alleged safety devices that motor vehicles have, such as airbags and seatbelts.

“Common Seat Belt Issues: Why You Should Get Them Checked.” September 8, 2021.

Background: This article discusses how seat belts malfunction and offers examples of how they malfunction. Some examples of these malfunctions would be damaged seatbelts, locking issues, and retractor problems. These malfunctions lead to possible seat belt injuries if the driver happens to get into a car accident.

How I Used It: I used this article to show that even the proper use of seat belts can still cause death and injuries because the seat belt mechanism itself is not, by any means, full proof. This concept further supports my position that seat belts not only cause a false sense of security, but are harmful when they are worn.

Huecker, MR, Chapman, J. (2022, September 9). “Seat Belt Injuries.” 

Background: This article goes through the history of seatbelt use and discusses in depth how they can be harmful by causing injuries. Those injuries include external and internal injuries, including seat belt syndrome and how the seat belt causes injuries to your organs.

How I Used It: I used this article to describe the injuries caused by seat belts to support my argument that seat belts are not safe and that they are merely establishing a false sense of security.

Ingraham, C. “Here’s how good (or awful) your hometown drivers are at wearing a seatbelt.” April 4, 2017.

Background: This article discusses how many people across the U.S. wear seat belts. Statistics were listed regarding seat belt use in the states. The priority of seat belt use, including seat belt laws, are discussed in each state as well.

How I Used It: I used this article to establish an overall framework for the reader as to the significance of this issue of seat belt use by showing the statistics across the country of their use in general.

Lubitz, K. (2020, July 21). “Risk Homeostasis: Reducing risk does not necessarily reduce accidents.” 

Background: This article discusses Dr. Gerald Wilde’s theory that people assess risk differently and people have a specific level of risk that is tolerable to them. People respond to reductions in the perceived risks by increasing their risky behaviors based on the level of risk tolerance that they possess.

How I Used It: I used the theory in this article to support the idea of seat belts creating a false sense of security which in turn creates more risky drivers as the levels of perceived risk falls by the use of seat belts.

McGinley, K., Brennan, R. (2022, December). “Car Accidents by State.” 

Background: This article describes overall statistics for car accidents in the states, and deaths and injuries caused by car accidents. There is also a table shown, providing a state by state breakdown of fatal motor vehicle crashes and motor vehicle crash deaths per all 50 states as of 2020.

How I Used It: I used this article to show the states with the most car accidents. It was important to show that New Hampshire, the state with minimal seat belt legislation, was not in the top states listed for having the most car accidents.

Najari, F. (2015, October). “An Immediate Death by Seat Belt Compression; A Forensic Medicine Report – PMC.” Retrieved March 6, 2023.

Background: This article discussed a real life case study of a 49 year old man who died from wearing a seat belt during a motor vehicle accident. Included are the injuries resulting from the use of a seat belt.

How I Used It: I used this article to immediately grab the reader’s attention by starting off my paper with a graphic illustration of a person being killed by wearing a seat belt. This case study set a dramatic tone for the paper from the outset. This example supported my thesis on why seatbelts are dangerous and why they should be eliminated.

“Seat Belt Law.” Retrieved April 17, 2023.

Background: This source describes the seat belt laws in New Hampshire. It also discusses that the state is not among the top 10, or even 20, of high accident fatality rates.

How I Used It: I used this source to describe how a state with minimal seat belt legislation was still able to maintain safer roadways than many other states. This was important information to argue against legal mandates for seat belt use.

Sheldon, A. “A Seat Belt History Timeline.” March 2, 2023.

Background: This article traced back the use of safety restraints in motor vehicles. It supplied a timeline of dates and information on each stage of the seat belt history.

How I Used It: I used this to educate the reader and to establish credibility in the article by providing background information on seat belts for the reader.

“The Peltzman Effect.” Retrieved April 17, 2023. 

Background: The article is about the idea of the Peltzman Effect which states that when safety measures are implemented people actually tend to increase their risky behaviors due to the increased sense of security.

How I Used It: This was a crucial article for my paper. It directly supported my theme that using seatbelts creates risky driving by creating an increased sense of security and protection.