To Buckle or Not To Buckle?

 Wearing A Seatbelt

To buckle or not to buckle is no longer the question among big rig drivers. According to etrucker.com, the Department of Transportation recently announced that more truckers than ever are taking safety precautions and using their seatbelts, with 65% buckling up. This statistic is up from 59% in 2006 and 48% in 2003. Still, the number is a sharp contrast from the 82% of passenger vehicle drivers that use the safety precaution, according to the DOT and etrucker.com.  

Whether it’s fear of an accident or fear of flashing red and blue lights that is making truckers reach for their seatbelts, studies haven’t suggested, but regardless, seatbelts can be a bit restrictive and uncomfortable, no matter how life saving they are. But these products shape the seatbelt into more than just a life saving tool.  

1. Seat Belt Protector Pads

Though seat belts are proven to save lives, they’re certainly not the most comfortable or fashionable accessories. And if you’re driving for most of the day, that irritating seatbelt feeling could be enough to drive you crazy. Thankfully, seatbelt protector pads come in a variety of materials and colors to make your ride a bit more comfortable and your cab a bit more personalized. Stylintrucks.com offers both a sheepskin model, and a leather flame design.

2. Push Button Release Seat Belt

Made for comfort and convenience, the push button release seat belt is made to comfortably adjust and quickly release to accommodate both long trips and trips when getting in and out quickly is necessary. Because it is smaller and lighter than standard a seat belt, it is more comfortable, and the unique design allows it to be adjusted while still fastened.

3. Seat Belt Adjuster

If you are one of those people who hates the way the seatbelt feels against your neck, this is for you! No more red marks after hours in the cab with this invention! The adjuster slips onto your cab’s seatbelt and allows you to direct it in any way, pointing it away from your neck! The belt is still fastened securely across your chest, but without the chafing!

4. Seat Belt Tension Adjustors

If chafing isn’t your only problem, you might want to try the seat belt tension adjuster offered through J.C. Whitney. Made to relieve tension that the seatbelt places on your chest and shoulder, this plastic adjuster slips onto the belt near the door mount. The adjuster also fits lap belts when attached to the “anchor point.”

5. Road Master Mobile Desk

If you don’t have a passenger in your passenger seat, that doesn’t mean the seatbelt can’t be securing something! For the trucker with work on his or her mind, the mobile desk has a swivel laptop counter, printer mount, and storage space for papers and files. The passenger seatbelt holds the unit in place while driving, assuring that it will not slip.  

For truckers, wearing a seatbelt will always be the least costly decision, whether they’re paying in tickets or with their lives, but that doesn’t mean it has to be uncomfortable or ugly. With these products, truck drivers can put the seatbelt to good use, even if no one’s riding in the seat!