What is the purpose of seat belts?

The purpose of seat belts is to keep occupants secure in their seats and minimize injury during an accident. When a vehicle is involved in a crash, the force of the impact can cause occupants to lurch forward due to inertia. Seat belts restrain passengers against their seats, preventing them from being ejected from the vehicle or colliding with interior parts of the car, which significantly reduces the risk of serious injury or fatality.

While some other options mention relevant safety features, they do not capture the primary function of seat belts. For example, while seat belts do play a role in ensuring that occupants remain secured, their main purpose is injury prevention during collisions—not to assist with vehicle control, door closure, or airbag deployment directly. The focus on the safety of occupants and the reduction of injury risk is what fundamentally defines the importance of seat belts in vehicle safety.