Many parents will soon be buying their teen, or perhaps even themselves, a used car. While there is a lot of info on what to look for in a used car, what type, etc., I want to point out a few safety features that are often overlooked.
1) SAFETY BELTS:
     While a CarFax or other reports may tell you the history of a vehicle, take note if the vehicles has been in any collision in the past. If so, even a minor collision, or heavy braking, can put a severe strain on safety belts. They can become unsafe, at worst, or difficult to release, at best, if this happens.
   

When looking at a vehicle, take each belt, individually, and pull it out to it's maximum length. Examine the strap, especially where it passes through a buckle of adjuster clip. Look for abrasion marks, either on the belt or on the adjuster clip. Remember, it takes a lot of force to cause such an abrasion. Technically, if any of the belts show signs of wear, fraying, or abrasion, they should be replaced! They may not work next time.

A belt, under normal but prolonged use, may show signs of slight fraying, as seen here. This is normal, as long as only a small bit of the edges are frayed. But if the wear goes more than about 1/8" into the belt, consider replacing it.

Here, we see a belt that has been twisted and caught in either a buckle, adjuster, or guide. This indicates immediate replacement. Have you ever tried to open a bag of chips, or candy, and had difficulty getting it open? Have you also noticed that if you can just get a slight tear in the sealed edge, it will open with much less force? Okay, now think of your child in a belt like this. Do you think it will stand up to the pressures of an accelerating body during a collision, or an hard, abrupt stop? Nope! Replace it!

If you extend a belt to its maximum length, you may see "stretch marks" along the belt. Seat belts are designed to stretch a slight amount to lessen the impact and harshness of the body on the belt during a collision or hard stop. However, the stretch mark you see here are abnormal, and indicate, once again, that the belt should be replaced.

A definite danger is shown here. If the belt has been cut by seats, or other items in a vehicle, or put under tremendous strain during a collision, a tear, such as shown her, close to the anchor for the belt, is a tragedy just waiting for a collision to occur. Sadly, many buyers of used cars don't get "down and dirty" and look at the very items designed to help save their own lives. Examine the belts, every one of them, before buying a used car. Your life, or the lives of those you love, may depend on it!

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