Fastening a seat belt takes no more than four seconds, yet those seemingly insignificant moments can mean the difference between life and death. The Traffic Police Department is once again urging motorists and passengers to buckle up, emphasizing that seat belts remain the most basic and most effective form of protection in the event of a crash.

Safety statistics reinforce this warning. When worn correctly, a seat belt can reduce the risk of injury by 40 to 45 percent for individuals seated in the front and by 70 to 75 percent for those riding in the back. Despite this, non-compliance continues to be one of the most common traffic violations in Mongolia. In just the first 10 months of this year, authorities documented about 373,045 cases where drivers or passengers failed to use their seat belts.

Traffic officials stress that the consequences of neglecting this simple precaution are apparent in the severity of injuries reported in road accidents. Many collisions that result in life-threatening harm or fatalities could have had drastically different outcomes had seat belts been properly worn. Police report frequent cases in which passengers are thrown against the vehicle interior—or even ejected from the car—solely due to not being strapped in.

Authorities are calling on drivers to set an example by buckling up as soon as they get into their vehicle and ensuring that all passengers, including those in the back seat, do the same. They also highlighted that children must be placed in appropriate car seats, as adult seat belts cannot adequately protect them during impact and may even cause harm.

Road safety experts note that Mongolia continues to experience a high volume of traffic accidents, many of which stem from preventable behaviors. Encouraging consistent seat belt use, they say, is one of the simplest ways to reduce injuries, ease the burden on emergency medical services, and save lives.

As the holiday and winter travel seasons approach—a time when road traffic and collision risks typically rise—police are intensifying their public awareness efforts. Their message is clear: four seconds of responsibility can safeguard your life and the lives of those you love.