IN our urban motoring culture, many drivers deem the seatbelt superfluous when navigating congested city roads where speeds seldom exceed 60km/hour. This assumption is not merely misguided; it is a perilous delusion that flies in the face of both physics and prudence. Catastrophic injury is not solely the offspring of high velocity, but of sudden deceleration as well. When a vehicle comes to an instantaneous stop, the human body, governed by inertia, continues its forward trajectory. In the blink of an eye, an unrestrained driver can be hurled against the steering wheel or windshield, turning a minor collision into a life-altering calamity. At even 50km/hour, the force exerted upon impact is much like falling from a considerable height.

The often repeated claim that airbags render seatbelts redundant is another myth that deserves to be laid to rest. Airbags are designed to complement seatbelts, not replace them. Without restraint, the deployment of an airbag can itself become a double-edged sword, inflicting severe facial or cervical injuries.

Urban driving conditions further aggravate the risk. Unauthorised speed breakers spring up like mushrooms after rain, compelling sudden braking and inviting rear-end collisions. Broken roads destabilise vehicles. Encroachments constrict carriageways, increasing the likelihood of side-impact crashes. In such a milieu, the seatbelt serves as the thin line between survivable injury and irreversible tragedy.

The responsibility does not end with the driver. An unbelted rear-seat passenger can become a human projectile during impact, jeopardising not only personal safety, but also that of fellow occupants. Safety, therefore, must be a collective commitment, not an optional courtesy. We must dispel the dangerous notion that short distances and moderate speeds offer immunity from harm. Accidents do not send prior notice, nor do they discriminate between motorways and city streets. To ignore the seatbelt in congested traffic is to play Russian roulette with one’s own life.

Dr Raheel Laghari
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2026