35.109. In the event of an accident, will this driver be protected by the seat belt?
UAУ разі аварії цей водій буде захищений ременем безпеки?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns passive safety in a car and how proper use of a seat belt affects the risk of injury during sudden braking or an accident. In the theoretical exam, such tasks test not only formal knowledge of the requirements but also understanding of their practical meaning: the belt is meant to restrain the torso and prevent a person from moving sharply forward toward the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield.
The question checks the requirements of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the driver's duties, specifically point 2.3 (subpoint "v"): in vehicles equipped with seat belts, the driver must use them. Importantly, "use" means fastening correctly: the belt must be adjusted to fit the height, not twisted, and fit snugly to the body. If the shoulder strap is positioned incorrectly (for example, under the arm or shifted), or the lap part is too high (over the abdomen), the belt does not actually perform its protective function and may even increase the severity of injuries.
Therefore, the option stating that the driver will be protected is incorrect: having the buckle fastened does not guarantee safety without proper belt positioning. Instead, the correct answer is that there will be no protection, as improper use of the belt does not provide reliable torso restraint. To prepare for the theoretical traffic rules exam, it is worth remembering a simple principle: the belt should go over the shoulder (not over the neck and not under the arm), and the lower part should rest on the pelvic bones to reduce the risk of internal injuries.
Clause 2.3 (subclause "v")
In vehicles equipped with passive safety devices (headrests, seat belts), use them and do not transport passengers who are not wearing seat belts.
This clause checks the driver's obligation to use the seat belt as a passive safety device. Incorrect positioning of the belt (for example, the shoulder strap under the arm/behind the back or improper fit) means that the belt does not actually perform its protective function.
Therefore, the correct answer is "No.", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver must use the seat belt as a passive safety device, and improper use does not provide protection in the event of an accident.
The rules require not just having a seat belt, but using it correctly. In clause 2.3 (c) of the Traffic Rules, it is stated that the driver of vehicles equipped with seat belts is obliged to use these passive safety devices. The purpose of this requirement is that during sudden braking or a collision, the belt should securely hold the torso and prevent the body from moving forward.
In the image, the driver is formally buckled, but the belt is positioned incorrectly and is not adjusted to fit the body snugly. When the shoulder part of the belt does not go over the shoulder but is shifted (for example, under the arm or behind the back), or when the lap part lies too high, the belt does not perform its main function: it does not hold the torso in the correct position.
In the event of an accident or sudden braking, with the belt positioned this way, the body may sharply move forward: the driver risks hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, and may also be injured by the belt itself if the load is placed on the wrong parts of the body. That is, the belt in such a position does not provide proper protection, even though it is fastened.
Therefore, the correct answer is "No.", because the belt is fastened and positioned incorrectly, so it will not be able to reliably secure the torso and protect the driver during a collision or sudden braking.