Final answer:
True, the widespread use of safety belts and other safety features in vehicles, such as airbags, can significantly reduce the number of injuries and deaths from traffic crashes.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, injuries and deaths resulting from traffic crashes could be greatly reduced if everyone wore a safety belt. The use of seat belts, along with other safety features like airbags, is critical in improving passenger safety during vehicle collisions. When a collision occurs, these features, based on the physics concept of impulse, help to reduce the forces exerted on the passengers by extending the time over which a collision takes place.
Seat belts prevent occupants from being ejected from the vehicle, while crumple zones and airbags increase the time of impact, effectively reducing the force experienced by the passengers, as per the impulse equation Δp = Fnet Δt. These measures have been shown to save lives and limbs, making them essential for vehicle safety. For instance, reductions in deaths during car races were noted when rigid frames were replaced with parts designed to crumple upon impact, serving as a real-world application of these safety principles.