Your Seatbelt Can Push Your Car and Break Your Window — Here's How

A seatbelt is not just for wearing. This TikTok mechanic shows the secret jobs it does — including getting you out of a bad situation.

Chequanxiaoqiao calls herself "a reliable driver who knows cars," and 4 million people on TikTok follow her to learn about cars every day. She is a young woman mechanic from China who films quick, hands-on lessons in parking lots and driveways: real parts, real tools, no jargon. Her promise is simple — follow her and learn something about your car every single day. With nearly 1,000 videos, she has built one of the biggest car-teaching accounts on TikTok, and her most-shared lessons are the ones that get you out of a bad situation.

Watch: The secret function of seat belts

Watch: What to do if the ABS warning light is on?

What to take from it

• Your seatbelt can push your car. Pull the belt all the way out, close the door, loop it over your shoulder — and even a small person can push a broken-down car with real leverage.
• Check the bottom of the belt webbing. Mud, sand, or moldy spots down low mean the car was flooded. Walk away from that used car.
• Compare the dates. The date tag on the seatbelt should match the car's build date. A mismatch can mean the airbags went off in a major crash.
• The buckle tongue breaks glass. Trapped inside? The metal edge of the seatbelt buckle can smash the corner of a side window to get you out.
• An ABS light is not a suggestion. Her second video covers what the ABS warning light means and why you should not ignore it — especially before winter driving.

Follow Chequanxiaoqiao (@chequanxiaoqiao) on TikTok for more.

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