Published : 2024-11-25
When travelling on the high-speed rail train, have you noticed that there are no seat belts in the seats? What is the reason? Is it safe?
Train runs smoothly with few bumps
First of all, it should be noted that the fact that high-speed rail trains do not provide seat belts is not unique to China. High-speed rail trains in Japan, Korea, and Europe also do not have them.
Of course, with China's high-speed rail having developed rapidly in recent years, possessing advanced technology, and accounting for 2/3 of the world's total mileage, it is considered the most representative.
Why not mention the United States and Canada? Sorry, these two countries do not yet have high-speed rail in the strictest sense.
The reasons for the absence of seat belts on the high-speed trains are, firstly, that there is no need.
Although China's high-speed rail is faster than many other countries, with many lines reaching speeds of 350 kilometres per hour, the trains run on high-standard tracks, which are very smooth, with no bumps at all and no sudden lane-changing or turning issues.
At the same time, under comprehensive and strict management, there are almost no sudden braking or sudden acceleration situations on Chinese high-speed rail trains. It is even less likely to encounter turbulence like an airplane, making it feel like a roller coaster ride.
Wearing seat belts could be more dangerous?
Therefore, it is not necessary to have seat belts on Chinese high-speed rail trains, and passengers are free to move around the carriage at any time or go to the bathroom without being restricted like on an airplane.
Chinese high-speed rail does not need seat belts, and passengers are free to walk around the train compartments or go to the toilets at any time without being restricted like on an airplane.
What about in case of an emergency? Can seat belts save lives?
This is not true either, because using seat belts on high-speed rail trains might backfire in emergency situations.
That's why other countries' high-speed rail may not be as “stable” as China's, but they also don't provide seat belts.
High-speed rail trains are travelling at a high speed.
In case of emergency braking, the speed of the train will sharply drop from over 200 or even over 300 kilometres per hour to zero all at once.
Under the inertia of gravity, passengers will inevitably rush forward. At this time, the instantaneous compressive force of the seat belt could cause potential injuries to the body or even injure the cervical spine.
Furthermore, if passengers are tied to their seats, they might not be able to effectively take refuge in case of structural collapse of the train compartment. Wearing seat belts is also not conducive to post-disaster rescue.
Read more: Why are there no E seats on trains?
Crash barrier safety seats provide strong protection
So, if there is an accident on the high-speed rail train, do we just leave it to fate?
Definitely not. High-speed rail trains provide more effective protective facilities than the use of seat belts - the use of "crash barrier seats".
Take China's high-speed rail as an example. The train seats do not look special, but they are made of specific materials. When the heads or knees of the rear passengers hit the backrest of the front seats, the backrest can quickly "collapse and deform" to provide protection.
In simple terms, the backrest will compress and deform like a cushion to absorb the impact force, avoiding injuries caused by collisions.
However, with the technological development nowadays, China's high-speed rail is highly safe, and these protective facilities should not be needed by everyone.
Read more: How to read the "colored landmarks" on high-speed rail platforms?
