All truck and car accidents can cause catastrophic harm or death to occupants. State and federal governments regularly analyze traffic accident data in search of ways to improve survivability. One safety measure that continues to show remarkable effectiveness in reducing fatalities and injuries is the regular use of the humble seat belt.
Despite evidence showing how seat belts improve occupant safety, many Richmond, Kentucky, residents remain opposed to using safety restraints. We wanted to discuss some facts regarding seat belts that may make you change your mind about their use.
Statistical data surrounding car accidents and seat belts
Government agencies have access to statistics about accidents. They use this data to uncover crash patterns, driver trends and seat belt statistics. Six facts about safety restraints through analyzing this statistical data include:
- The top cause of death for U.S. citizens aged 1 to 54 years is motor vehicle accidents.
- Nearly half of the occupants that died in vehicle accidents in 2019 were not using seat belts.
- If you use safety belts while driving, your risk of suffering fatal or catastrophic injuries falls by as much as 45 to 65%.
- The correct use of safety belts saved nearly 15,000 lives in 2017.
- Seat belts reduce the risk of getting ejected from your vehicle (almost always a fatal occurrence) during a crash.
- In 2017, 2549 of the total crash fatalities would likely have survived had the victims worn their safety restraints.
To protect your very life, we urge our neighbors in Kentucky to wear seat restraints every time you drive or ride in a vehicle. They can help you survive if a car accident does occur. It is also beneficial to learn more about Kentucky accident and injury compensation laws should a vehicle crash impact your family.