How Many Lives A Year Do Seatbelts Save?

The mountain of evidence that indicates that seatbelts save lives in the event of a New Haven auto accident is undeniable.   It is no surprise then that each year seatbelts save a LOT of lives for people who get into auto accidents.  In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) each year seatbelts save, on average 17,000 lives.  This is a staggering number and should be celebrated.

Another number relating to seatbelt use is the percentage of people who wear seatbelts.  In fact, in 2021 the rate of seatbelt usage in the United States was an incredibly positive 90%.  Even more exciting for transportation safety advocates is that the number was up 8% between 2007 and 2021.  This huge leap helped save even more lives.

Despite the wonderful numbers it is still something that safety experts say needs to be continually driven home to make sure that the number stays that high or grows even further.  Programs like the “Click it or ticket” programs are designed to encourage people to wear their seatbelts for both their safety and also to avoid getting a ticket and having to pay money for a ticket for not wearing their seatbelt.

If you have someone in your life who is still refusing to wear a seatbelt you may want to use some of these statistics to convince her/him to start wearing one.  If they do not, it has been proven time and time again that they are more likely to get injured or even be involved in a fatal accident where either they or someone they love dies.

Seatbelts are not the only way to prevent injuries in the event of a New Haven auto accident.  Obeying the speed limit is another way to make sure that if you do get into an accident that the injuries are minimal because excessive speed is one of the things that most often predicts whether an accident is going to be serious or just a run of the mill fender bender.   If you wear your seatbelt and you obey the speed limit you are well on your way to reducing the likelihood that you are going to be involved in an accident and in the event that you do end up in an accident that that accident will be severe.

If you are injured in an accident you may wish to speak with an attorney, whether or not you were wearing a seatbelt.  Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your case and work with you to protect your long-term interests.