These Seat Belt Statistics Might Surprise You

Everyone knows that we should always wear a seat belt when traveling in a car. We’ve all seen the click it or ticket it advertising campaign from the Florida Department of Transportation. But did you know just how much safer it is to wear a seat belt?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belt usage rate in 2022 was 91.6%. This high usage rate saves thousands of lives per year. However, there are even more lives that could be saved through wearing a seat belt. That’s why in today’s blog, we’re covering some surprising seat belt statistics that will guarantee you’re strapped in the next time you’re in a car. 

How Many Lives Do Seat Belts Save?

Seat belts, without a doubt, save many lives each and every year. According to the NHTSA, 14,955 lives were saved by drivers and passengers who wore seat belts in the year 2017. The biggest reason why seat belts are so effective is because they help prevent the driver or passenger from being ejected from the vehicle. Most drivers and passengers that are ejected from their vehicle in a crash face extreme injuries, which can potentially be fatal. Seat belts lock the driver or passenger in place, which is why it’s always so important to wear your seat belt out on the road.

How Many Extra Lives Could Have Been Saved?

While seat belts have saved so many lives, it’s also important to note how many more they could have saved if they had been used 100% of the time. According to the same NHTSA report, an additional 2,549 lives in 2017 could have been saved if every single driver or passenger used their seat belt. These lives were usually lost due to injuries sustained during an ejection from the vehicle. Having a 91.6% seat belt usage rate might seem high, but there are still thousands of additional lives we could be saving each and every year by wearing seat belts.

What Percent of Fatalities Involved an Unrestrained Passenger?  

Unfortunately, a high number of fatal accidents involve passengers who were not restrained by a seat belt. The same report from the NHTSA states that in 2020, 51% of all fatalities from a car accident involved an unrestrained passenger. It’s important to note that wearing a seat belt improperly can also lead to an accident. For example, wearing the seat belt strap underneath your arm can put you at risk if an accident occurs.

How Many Cumulative Lives Have Been Saved?

Thousands of lives are saved each year from seat belts, but how many lives have been saved in total? According to data compiled by the National Safety Council, seat belt statistics have been tracked since 1975. From the year 1975 to 2017, seat belts have saved a grand total of 374,276 lives. Hundreds of thousands of people have seat belts to thank for keeping them safe and alive after experiencing a car accident. 

We hope that learning these statistics will ensure that you always take seat belt safety seriously. However, even when wearing a seat belt, accidents can still happen. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN. If you’ve been involved in an accident, the guidance from a personal injury attorney could help navigate the aftermath. It is helpful to have legal and medical experts on your side. The experts at 1-800-411-PAIN can help explain your options, fight for the compensation you deserve, and guide you through a swift recovery.

If you or a loved person has been injured in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN today. Our legal professionals can help you navigate the tricky process of filing an insurance claim. Our medical professionals are here to provide you with the treatment you need. Remember, after 911, call 411.