Safety belt button, a small toy but a huge social problem

Traffic is becoming a serious problem in China, even on the country’s nwly built expressways. A recent jam on the Beijing-Tibet Expressway, caused by a suburban toll station in northern Beijing, even attracted the attention of the foreign media.

Police warn that Beijing has 4.5 million registered vehicles and will have more than 7 million by 2015. “By then, the average speed in downtown Beijing will be less than 15 kilometers an hour,” police saidThe low speeds in which drivers operate make many think they don’t need to fasten their seat belts.“Think of the speed of driving in downtown Beijing,” said Li Fan, an office worker in the Central Business District. “Is it necessary to use the beltBut safety experts warn that moving at low speeds doesn’t mean drivers can’t get hurt. Only the combination of seat belts and airbags can truly protect drivers and front-seat passengers.Neglecting seat belts is a common habit in Beijing. Most drivers say belts are inconvenient or too hot to use during summer. Some go so far as putting a bag belt on their shoulder to fool police into not pulling them over.

Zhang Yongming, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics, is an exception. He always wears a seat belt, saying, “You only have one life, take care of yourself!”The professor also cares about other passengers in his car. He has a bassinet basket for his one-year-old son.