Why is wearing seat belts a law

On average, States that pass primary seat belt laws can expect to increase seat belt use by eight percentage points. Depending on the level of high-visibility enforcement that they employ, however, far greater results are possible. Recent research Masten, has provided strong support that changing from secondary to primary enforcement [of] seat belt laws increases occupant seat belt use during the nighttime hours as well as the daytime hours when most observational surveys of seat belt use are conducted.

Strong evidence was found in the FARS data for all 6 States that primary seat belt laws increase seat belt use. Furthermore, statistically significant decreases in the number of front-seat passenger vehicle occupant fatalities were found in Michigan and Washington and the decrease in New Jersey was marginally significant.

The lack of significant effects on fatalities in Illinois and Tennessee, as well as a marginal increase in Delaware, was attributed in part to the short amount of time since the implementation of the primary provisions in these States as well as the small number of fatalities in Delaware.

Observational surveys conducted over an month period after this change went into effect in , measured increases in seat belt use from 77 to 84 percent during the daytime and from 69 percent to 81 percent at night. They found that Differences in seat belt use existed in certain sociodemographic categories, but usage rates were higher for each group in states with primary enforcement of seat belt laws. The data are at the national level and do not allow for comparisons between states with and without primary enforcement of seat belt laws but demonstrate a During this time, 14 additional states passed primary seat belt laws.

In addition to the lack of state-specific data, no information is available on other factors related to injury, such as seat belt use or seat position, and only injuries reported in hospital emergency departments are included, which would likely underestimate the number of injuries. Traynor, , examined correlations between recent changes in teen driving regulations, DWI laws, seat belt laws, and differences in traffic fatalities using — data from the 48 contiguous states.

After controlling for numerous factors affecting crash fatality risk, such as weather conditions, law enforcement spending, and speed limits, he found that the per-mile fatality rate insignificantly decreased with increasing strictness of seat belt laws where a primary law for all occupants was most strict.

The author suggested that this may be due to the model design, which accounts for the interaction between seat belt laws and driver alcohol restrictions. Another recent study used data from the Ohio Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System CODES program to predict annual medical cost savings to Medicaid if Ohio were to experience a percentage-point increase in seat belt usage by switching to a primary seat belt law Conner, Xiang, and Smith, In this study, only Medicaid costs which accounted for The effectiveness of primary seat belt laws is measured in various ways.

Seat belt use is the most common measure and can be captured through observational studies or self-reporting. Other observational studies have examined front-seat occupants only and distinguished between nighttime and daytime use. YES —doctors recommend it. Buckling up through all stages of your pregnancy is the single most effective action you can take to protect yourself and your unborn child in a crash.

NEVER drive or ride in a car without buckling up first! The shoulder belt away from your neck but not off your shoulder and across your chest between your breasts , making sure to remove any slack from your seat belt with the lap belt secured below your belly so that it fits snugly across your hips and pelvic bone.

NEVER place the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back. NEVER place lap belt over or on top of your belly. Should I Adjust My Seat? YES —Adjust to a comfortable, upright position Keep as much distance as possible between your belly and the steering wheel Comfortably reach the steering wheel and pedals To minimize the gap between your shoulder and the seat belt, avoid reclining your seat more than necessary.

Avoid letting your belly touch the steering wheel. You still need to wear your seat belt properly. Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them. Without a seat belt, you could crash into the vehicle interior, other passengers, or be ejected from the vehicle. Should I turn it off? NO —Doctors recommend that pregnant women wear seat belts and leave air bags turned on. Seat belts and air bags work together to provide the best protection for you and your unborn child.

Myth vs. The Real Deal There are many myths surrounding seat belt safety. See if you can distinguish the myths from the real deal by correctly answering the questions below. If your car has air bags you still need to wear a seat belt. Myth or Real Deal? Seat belts can trap you in a fire or under water.

If you're not going far or not traveling fast, seat belts are unnecessary. Your seat belt can hurt you in a crash. It's not as essential for guys to wear seat belts; they are the least at risk. Remember to buckle up every trip, every time! Use this quiz to test your seat belt IQ.

True or False: Every State has at least some kind of seat belt law. Far too many Americans die in crashes every year. Do you know how many unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants died in ? Is it best to use your seat belt on long trips or short trips? What is the best defense against drunk drivers on the road?

A seat belt. When parents ride without their seat belts. Seat belts saved approximately how many lives in ? In , what percentage of passenger vehicle occupants 14 years and younger were not using restraints when killed in traffic crashes? True or False: Wearing your seat belt is your best insurance to prevent injury and death in the tragic case of a motor vehicle crash. Watch the video. To learn more, visit our Teen Driving section.

Save a life: buckle up Your seat belt is crucial to surviving a crash. In , nearly half of passenger vehicle occupants who died in crashes were unrestrained. This could affect your reaction times when driving. If you move the seat check your mirrors are still in the right place.

For passengers 14 years old and over, it is their own responsibility to make sure that they wear a seat belt if there is one available. We will not reply to your feedback. Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

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Seat belts and child restraints Front seat Rear seat Who is responsible?