Mechanic Clarifies Viral Car Safety Tip: When Empty Rear Seatbelts Truly Matter

In a recent viral video, mechanic Juan José Ebenezer, founder of Talleres Ebenezer, addressed a popular car safety tip: buckling up rear seatbelts even when no one is occupying the seats. The video, uploaded from Spain, has garnered significant attention, with over 530,000 views. Ebenezer clarified that the effectiveness of this practice is not universal and largely depends on the specific vehicle's design and the nature of an accident. He demonstrated with various car models, including a Mercedes, a Seat Ibiza, and a BMW, highlighting the different ways rear seats are anchored to the chassis. "Some seats are foldable and directly anchored to the chassis, while others, like certain BMW models, have seatbacks anchored with internal pinions, making them less secure in some scenarios," Ebenezer explained. The mechanic emphasized that buckling up empty rear seatbelts primarily offers an advantage in frontal collisions. "In a frontal impact, anything loose in the trunk can act as a projectile, moving forward with significant force," he stated. "The buckled seatbelts can help to secure the seatbacks, creating a more robust barrier against such projectiles." However, he noted that in rear-end collisions, the force would push cargo backward, rendering the buckled belts less effective. While acknowledging that the practice may not always provide maximum benefit, Ebenezer concluded with a general safety recommendation: "When in doubt, a little more security never hurts. It's better to do it and not need it, than to need it and not have done it." His insights aim to inform drivers about the nuances of car safety beyond widely circulated tips.

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