The ______ keeps your head and chest from striking the dashboard or windshield in a collision.

The shoulder belt plays a crucial role in occupant safety during a vehicle collision. It is designed to restrain the upper body, effectively keeping the head and chest secure and preventing them from striking the dashboard or windshield. This type of restraint is positioned across the shoulder and chest, distributing the forces of a crash more evenly across the stronger parts of the body, reducing the risk of severe injuries to vital areas.

In contrast, other safety features like the lap belt, while important, only secure the lower part of the body and do not provide adequate protection for the upper body in a collision. The headrest is primarily designed to prevent whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions by providing support to the head, but it does not function to restrain the upper body during a crash. Similarly, airbags deploy to cushion and protect occupants but do not serve as a restraining device that prevents forward movement in a crash. Thus, the shoulder belt is essential for keeping the upper body safely in place during an impact.