Facts About Wearing Seat Belts
When you're driving an automobile, safety should be utmost in your mind. Seat belts, required in nearly every state, can prevent injury and death in an accident. Even if you have a perfect driving record and use every possible caution, someone else could hit you.
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Statistics
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, 13,250 deaths were prevented in 2008 by people wearing seat belts during an accident.
Use
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According to the National Safety Council website, females are more conscientious about wearing seat belts than males. Solo drivers use them less. And African American drivers used seat belts less often than any other race in 2007.
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State Regulation
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The District of Columbia and 49 states have mandatory seat-belt laws. New Hampshire is the only state without this restriction, according to the National Safety Council.
Misconceptions
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Some people think they're safe without a seat belt if they're driving at lower speeds or traveling a short distance. According to the University of Oklahoma Police Department website, approximately 80 percent of accidents occur at speeds of 40 mph or less. Fatalities at 12 mph have been recorded.
Warning
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The facts show that you are 25 times more likely to die if you get thrown from a vehicle in an accident.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Chris Watson
