Seat Belts Save Lives

Friday, November 5, 2010

Think drunk driving is the only leading cause of death in car accidents in Florida? Think again! Buckle up, Florida! Ejection from a vehicle is serious business in a car crash. Of those people ejected from a vehicle, 75 percent of them are killed. Seat belts save over 13,000 lives a year. Buckling up is the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and others in a crash. During times like the holiday season, where more crashes occur due to impaired or distracted driving, seat belt safety is even more of a concern.

A common misconception is that air bags alone save lives. Air bags help to save lives, but they do not act as seat belts and are not a replacement for them. Without a seatbelt, an abrupt or harsh movement could throw you into the air bag, injuring you or even killing you. So just be safe, Florida, and click it. Remember it’s not just you in the car. The passenger seat can sometimes be the most dangerous seat in a vehicle. Unfortunately, motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of death among children ages 3 to 14. The correct use of child safety seats or seat belts, however, is extremely effective and reduces a child’s risk of death as high as 71 percent! Out of these children that are buckled up, 73 percent of these child restraints are not used or implemented correctly, so make sure to follow instructions for securing your child in the car. Aside from child safety, make sure before you buy a car that the seat belt is right for you too! Ask about seat belt adjusters at the car company if needed.

Seat belt safety awareness is helping save lives. In 2006, seat belt use was at an all time high at 81 percent thanks to public service announcements. Click it or Ticket, which I’m sure all of you have seen on the roads of Florida, is the national safety belt use campaign which runs during late May. To find out more on how to safely buckle yourself, children, or other loved ones visit www.nhtsa.gov and click “4 Steps for Kids”, as well as the “Should pregnant women wear seat belts?” brochure. Both are guides that can make all the difference.

Does this all effect insurance rates? You bet! Be a safe driver this holiday season and always!