The Importance of Wearing a Seat Belt on Flights, Even When Signs Are Off

Crashes aren’t the only reasons people get injured on a plane.

Seat belts save lives, both when riding in a car and on a plane.

Statistics show that seat belts are instrumental in keeping commuters safe. Moreover, with the amount of driving we do, most individuals don’t think twice about buckling up before embarking on a vehicle journey. However, why doesn’t the same logic apply to air travel?

In a 2007 survey of 1,548 plane passengers, 7% indicated they “rarely” or “never” stay buckled in when the seat belt sign is off. Consequently, years later, the sound of seat belts clicking through the cabin as soon as the ding indicates it’s safe to get up suggests flyer behavior hasn’t changed significantly.

Here’s why the safest move is to stay seated and buckled in on an airplane.

How Airplane Seat Belts Work

You’ve probably noticed that seat belts in airplanes aren’t quite as comprehensive as the ones in cars. However, there’s a valid reason for the different design.

Planes utilize what’s known as “lift lever” belts, which, as the name suggests, release when you lift the lever, rather than push a button like in a car. Lift lever belts date back to before airplanes even existed, but became common in aviation by the 1940s. The lift lever design remains the most widely used due to its cost-effectiveness and lightweight nature.

Moreover, while pilots and crew might wear shoulder straps, passengers typically only receive a lap belt. Unlike with cars, where the primary risk is related to back-and-forth motion, the chief concern on a plane is the up-and-down movement. Lap belts help keep you anchored in your seat during turbulence. The simple mechanism of the lift lever lap belt enables passengers to buckle up quickly and easily when necessary.

Myths About Plane Seat Belts

One major reason people don’t wear seat belts on planes, aside from discomfort, is the perception that they are ineffective in the event of a crash. While this may hold some validity for catastrophic incidents, smaller accidents, such as planes colliding while taxiing on the runway, can still lead to injuries for those who are unbuckled.

Another common myth suggests that plane seat belts are designed to keep individuals in their seats so their bodies can later be identified after a tragic incident. However, this notion is largely disputed. Many people switch seats throughout flights, and some airlines—like Southwest—do not even assign specific seats, rendering this argument irrelevant.

Additionally, some bypass wearing seat belts believing they impede quick evacuations in emergencies. If there’s a cabin fire, a swift exit is essential. Nevertheless, industry experts dismiss this idea, emphasizing the efficiency of the lever mechanism for rapid evacuation.

Buckling Up for Turbulence

According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, pilots report 65,000 encounters with moderate turbulence and 5,500 encounters with severe turbulence in the U.S. annually. When evaluating the number of plane crashes in the U.S. (just over 1,000) and the relatively lower incidence of fires, it becomes clear that turbulence presents the most significant risk of physical injury onboard aircraft.

Turbulence occurs due to abrupt changes in airflow caused by mountains, jet streams, or storms. Pilots employ tools like weather radars and meteorological maps to identify thunderstorms and hazardous winds along the flight path, activating the seat belt sign under such conditions. Nevertheless, turbulence can sometimes arise unexpectedly—this is known as clear-air turbulence and can happen even in perfectly clear skies.

It’s typical for the plane to dip during turbulence, which can dislodge unbuckled passengers from their seats. In severe instances, turbulence has been known to propel individuals forcefully against the cabin ceiling, potentially resulting in concussions, broken bones, or even more serious injuries.

When the seat belt sign is illuminated, it is recommended that passengers refrain from calling for an attendant for safety considerations.