Seat belts Are Important… But How Effective Are They?

Decades ago, motor safety advocates were fighting to keep people safe by encouraging them to wear seat belts. Nowadays, wearing a seat belt feels like second nature. After years of expensive tickets and ad campaigns from local and state governments, a lot of us just click our seat belts to avoid the headaches (and fines). It’s become so second nature, that we might not even know how effective something as simple as a seat belt can be during a potentially life-threatening car crash. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Highway Safety Administration, a recent study showed just how much seat belts can be a life saver during an accident. Research showed that “using seat belts reduces the risk of fatal injuries to front seat occupants of cars by 45% and the risk to light truck occupants by 60%.” [NHTSA] Obviously, avoiding risky driving situations is the best bet to stay out of danger but the data backs up the years of campaigning and safety videos — seat belts work. So, if you’re part of the 13% of the population that still doesn’t “click it” before they get on the road, just know those two seconds before you pull out of your driveway can save your life if push comes to shove.