Seatbelts

Everyone has heard that seatbelts save lives, but not everyone wears their seatbelt. Studies show about 1 in every 7 people do not wear their seatbelt. There are many reasons why people do not wear seatbelts, but the facts are that they save lives.

Excuses Why People Do Not Wear Seatbelts:

It is “not cool”. Teenagers are the least likely age group to wear their seatbelts. Educate the teenagers in your family on seatbelt use.Males are also 10%less likely to wear their seatbelts compared to females.
They are uncomfortable. If it is to a point that it is uncomfortable for you to wear look into buying an aftermarket pad to put on your seatbelt. Do not put it behind your back instead of across your chest.Wearing it improperly will make it less effective in protecting you during a crash.
The myth “it is more dangerous to wear seatbelts than not to”. The research shows that this is not the case. Search on YouTube “Man Does NotWear Seatbelt” to see what it looks like when a person rolls a vehicle and does not have their seatbelt on.

Why You Should Wear Your Seatbelts:

According to the CDC, seatbelts reduce crash related injuries and deaths by half. In 2014, seatbelts saved an estimated 12,802 lives. Individuals who do not wear their seatbelt are more likely to be ejected from the vehicle in a crash. Seatbelts serve as a restraint for passengers in a vehicle. They restrain an individual to the seat instead of being ejected from the vehicle or being thrown around the interior of a vehicle in the instance of a crash. While airbags serve as great protection during a crash they do not offer the best protection alone. Air bags combined with proper seatbelt usage offers passengers the best odds of surviving an automobile crash.

Summary:

Seatbelts need to be worn every time you are in a vehicle. Reasons such as being uncomfortable or “not cool” are not good enough for not wearing a seat belt. As the driver, you are responsible for everyone in your vehicle. Require anyone riding in your vehicle to wear their seatbelt. Educate others who do not wear their seatbelts.