Click It or Ticket: The Safety of Seat Belts

In the realm of road safety, few measures have proven as effective as the simple act of buckling up. Seatbelts are often overlooked as important but stand as a crucial barrier between life and death on the roads. As we delve into the significance of seatbelts, it’s imperative to highlight the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “Click It or Ticket” movement—a campaign that has played a pivotal role in promoting seatbelt usage and saving countless lives. Within the week of May 13th, the NHTSA promotes its campaign focusing on the consequences of not wearing seat belts when riding in a vehicle. If you have been injured due to the negligence of another, call Barnes Cohen & Sullivan.

Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 1-54. Throughout the world, roads are shared by cars, motorcycles, large trucks, buses, pedestrians, etc. With the ability to travel, development in many forms is able to occur, including the transportation of goods. However, each year, vehicles are involved in crashes that are the cause of millions of injuries and deaths throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO), estimates about 1.19 million people die each year as a result of car accidents throughout the world. While there is a large number of deaths due to accidents, between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries (many include a disability).

The WHO states more than 90% of traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Even in high-income countries, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be involved in road traffic crashes. While individuals between 5-29 years old are the largest group of deaths caused by traffic accident injuries, two-thirds of traffic fatalities occur among the working age (18-59) years. It is also more likely for males to die in auto accidents compared to females. The NHTSA emphasizes the misconception on seating position. Too many people wrongly believe they are safe in the back seat unrestrained. Forty-eight percent of all front-seat passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2022 were unrestrained, but 59% of those killed in back seats were unrestrained.

Always Remember to Buckle Up

As Memorial Day approaches, you may notice more law enforcement on the roads as part of the Click It or Ticket campaign. The NHTSA states in 2022, 11,302 passengers in a vehicle were killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts. Among the young adults killed, 60% were unbuckled. When buckling up, place the seat belt across the middle of your chest with the lap belt across your hips, not your stomach.

Many Americans are understanding the value of seat belts and how lifesaving it can be. The national use rate in 2023 was 91.9%. By understanding the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seat belt, you and your passengers will likely be safer if involved in an accident. By buckling up, individuals not only protect themselves but also contribute to the broader goal of creating safer roads for all. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, call Barnes Cohen & Sullivan for a free consultation. Our experienced legal team is dedicated to help our clients get the compensation they deserve.