National Passenger Restraint

	Page Content Passenger Restraint Drivers and passengers who buckle up are 50 percent more likely to survive serious motor vehicle crashes and avoid injuries, making safety belts the least expensive and most effective way to lower employer costs due to crashes and injuries. Safety belt laws differ from state to state, but there are adult belt use laws in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Despite this, in 2009 12,865 people not wearing safety belts were killed in motor vehicle crashes. Encouraging employees to wear their safety belts will greatly increase their chances of surviving a traffic crash, and is the easiest way to lower crash-related costs. What's the Problem Who’s Still Not Buckling Up? In 2008, the overall safety belt use rate was 83 percent, compared to 58 percent in 1994. Experts say safety belts have helped save an additional 13,250 lives over the last year and over 250,000 lives since 1975. However, 54 percent of driver fatalities and 56 percent of passenger fatalities for which restraint use were known were reported to be unrestrained. Passengers and pickup drivers are less likely to buckle up than other motorists, and men are less likely to use safety belts than women. An estimated 4,152 additional lives could have been saved in 2008 if all vehicle occupants over age 4 wore safety belts. Ejections from Vehicles Ejection from the vehicle is one of the most serious events that can happen in a crash. In fatal crashes in 2008, 77 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from the vehicle were killed. Seat belts are extremely effective in preventing total ejections, as only 1 percent of the occupants reported to have been using restraints were totally ejected, compared with 30 percent of the unrestrained occupants. Unrestrained Driving Costs According to a report by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, safety belts prevent about 11,900 fatalities and 325,000 injuries every year, saving $50 billion in medical care, lost productivity and other injury-related costs. Not wearing a safety belt results in 9,200 avoidable deaths and 143,000 needless injuries nationally. The evidence is overwhelming that safety belts save lives and reduce the severity of injuries. Employers must make a commitment to increasing safety belt use among employees. *The average cost per unrestrained person involved in an on-the-job crash is* $27,750. What You Can Do How to Buckle Up Safely A safety belt needs to be properly worn to fully protect the person wearing it. Make sure the lap and shoulder belts are secured across the pelvis and rib cage. If the safety belt does not fit properly, ask you car dealer about safety belt adjusters or extenders. Check with your vehicle manufacturer if your car only has a lap belt to see how you can install a lap and shoulder belt. Implement a Safety Belt Policy Businesses with a written policy requiring employees to buckle up in a company vehicle or on company business have higher on-the-job safety belt usage. Employees who are in the habit of using a safety belt during work hours also are more likely to buckle up when they are off the clock. According to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration report, among employees who drive as part of their jobs, the percentage that report wearing safety belts “all the time” (personal and work-related) is higher (86 percent) among those who thought their company had a safety belt use policy than among those who did not (72 percent). Support the ‘Click It or Ticket’ Campaign The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Memorial Day "Click It or Ticket" campaign occurs each May and combines extensive advertising with stepped up enforcement of the state’s safety belt laws. This is an ideal time for businesses to conduct a safety belt education program and remind employees that buckling up helps prevent serious injury and the chance of receiving an expensive ticket. What's New State By State Safety Belt Laws Every state has different laws regarding safety belt use. The NHTSA Summary of Vehicle Occupant Protections Laws provides information on each state’s laws, fines, and requirements. The Pregnant Woman’s Guide to Buckling Up Safety belt usage is recommended for pregnant women to protect them and their unborn child. This brochure details guidelines and tips on safety belt usage for pregnant women and also provides a brief primer on child safety seats. Safety Belts Save Lives A December 2009 report from the Department of Transportation and NHTSA concluded that passengers who do not use a safety belt are almost 18 times more likely to be ejected from their vehicle when involved in a crash than occupants who are buckled up. Statistics show 35.3 percent of unrestrained vehicle occupants were ejected, compared with only 2 percent of restrained occupants. The simple act of wearing a safety belt may very well be the easiest, least expensive and most effective way to prevent traffic deaths and injuries on and off the job. Drivers and passengers who buckle up have a 50 percent better chance of surviving serious traffic collisions and avoiding serious injuries.