Seat Belt Statistics Leave Room for Improvement

2006

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released the following seat belt statistics:

• The NHTSA estimates that 15,383 lives were saved by seat belts in 2006. From 1975 to 2006, seat belts have saved the lives of 226,567 people. As car safety improves, more lives are saved.
• Of those thrown completely out of a vehicle in a car crash, 75 percent died. Only one percent of people totally ejected from their cars had on a seat belt during the crash. Over 30 percent were not wearing seat belts.
• In 2006, 42,642 people were killed in car accidents. The NHTSA was able to gather seat belt data on 30,251 of the 42,642 car occupants that died in car crashes. Nearly 56 percent, or 16836 people, of the 30,251 with available restraint information were not wearing seat belts at the time of the fatal auto accident.
• Research found that 7064 people killed in car wrecks during the daytime were not wearing safety belts. Of those killed in nighttime car accidents, 9,615 were not wearing seatbelts.

2002

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released the following seat belt stats:

• In 2002, 43,005 people died in traffic accidents. Seat belt data was available for 32,598 of those involved in fatal car crashes. Of that number, 19,103 were not wearing seat belts.
• 4,200 lives could be saved each year if 90% of the U.S. population wore seat belts.
• Fatalities and accidents involving those not wearing seat belts cost the U.S. approximately $20 billion per year. Of that cost, 74% of the tab is paid for by the public.
• One out of four Americans still doesn't wear a seat belt.

Convincing the American public to wear seat belts is a top priority for former emergency room physician, Jeffrey Runge. Dr. Runge is now the Administrator for the NHTSA. He is pushing for Congress to give states incentives to pass bills that would make not wearing a seat belt a primary offense. This means that a driver or passenger can be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt. The ticket would not have to accompany another violation, such as a speeding ticket.