Buckle Up
We have all been told to wear our seat belts. Simply, we all should. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), “[m]otor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among those aged 1-54 in the U.S.” We all know seat belts are for our safety when operating or riding in an automobile. But do you know why? Do you know how important seat belts are to your safety?
The CDC states “[s]eat belts dramatically reduce risk of death and serious injury. Among drivers and front-seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%.” More, the CDC articulates “[s]eat belts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected during a crash. People not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash. More than 3 out of 4 people who are ejected during a fatal crash die from their injuries.” (Emphasis added).
Moreover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) stated, that “[o]f the 22,215 passengers vehicle occupants killed in 2019, 47% were not wearing seat belts.” The NHTSA also estimates that “seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts, in 2017 alone.”
These statistics should clue you in to the importance of wearing a seat belt. It is a simple task that can save your life. No matter the distance you are traveling, you should always buckle your seat belt. Often people may think because they are only going a short distance they do not need to wear a seat belt. Such an assumption is ill-advised and can lead to tragic consequences.
It is crucial when you get behind the wheel that you make sure you and all your passengers are securely fastened before departing. You can do everything in your power to drive carefully and prudently, but you cannot control how others on the roadway are going to operate their motor vehicles. As such, it is paramount you take every precaution feasible to ensure everyone in your vehicle is safe. The simplest, easiest, and perhaps most effective, way to do so is putting on your seat belt.
Thus, as you embark on your next journey, please make sure everyone has their seat belts on before you leave. A simple click of the buckle can make the world of difference to the safety of you, your family, and friends. Buckle up and be safe!
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