51% Percentage of Passenger Vehicle Occupants Killed in 2020 Who Were Unrestrained Show
Of the 23,824 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2020, 51% were not wearing seat belts — a 4% increase from 2019. Seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts, in 2017 alone. The consequences of not wearing, or improperly wearing, a seat belt are clear: Traffic Safety Facts 1. Buckling up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle, whereas not buckling up can result in being totally ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always deadly. 2. Air bags are not enough to protect you; in fact, the force of an air bag can seriously injure or even kill you if you’re not buckled up. 3. Improperly wearing a seat belt, such as putting the strap below your arm, puts you and your children at risk in a crash. The benefits of buckling up are equally clear:
The Issue Seat Belt Safety for AdultsFollow these seat belt tips and guidelines, including do’s and don’ts when you’re pregnant. Then have some fun quizzing yourself about the myths and facts of buckling up, and test your seat belt IQ. The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Buckling Up58% OF THOSE KILLED DURING THE NIGHTTIME IN 2020 WERE UNRESTRAINED 1. Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle; being completely ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly. 2. Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them If you don’t wear your seat belt, you could be thrown into a rapidly opening frontal air bag. Such force could injure or even kill you. Learn about air bag safety. 3. Guidelines to buckle up safely
4. Fit matters
5. Seat belt safety for children and pregnant women Find out when your child is ready to use an adult seat belt and learn about seat belt safety when you’re pregnant. (PDF of the top 5) If You’re Pregnant: Seat Belt Recommendations for Drivers and PassengersIf you’re pregnant, make sure you know how to position your seat and wear a seat belt to maximize your safety and the safety of your unborn child. Read our recommendations below or view the instructional diagram version of our seat belt recommendations for pregnant drivers and passengers (PDF 497 KB). I’m Pregnant. Should I Wear a Seat Belt?
What’s the Right Way to Wear My Seat Belt?
Should I Adjust My Seat?
What if My Car or Truck Has Air Bags?
My Car Has an ON-OFF Air Bag Disabling Switch. Should I turn it off?
What Should I Do if I am Involved in a Crash?
Myth vs. The Real DealThere are many myths surrounding seat belt safety. See if you can distinguish the myths from the real deal by correctly answering the questions below. What’s Your Seat Belt IQ?Any time you’re in a motor vehicle, no matter where you’re sitting or where you’re going, you should always play it safe. Remember to buckle up every trip, every time! Use this quiz to test your seat belt IQ. The Issue Seat Belt Safety for TweensWhen Is My Child Ready for an Adult Seat Belt?Related Topic The time to transition your child out of a booster seat and into a seat belt usually comes when the child is between 8 and 12 years old. Keep your children in booster seats until they outgrow the size limits of the booster seats or are big enough to fit properly in seat belts.
See how your child should be using her seat belt Fitting a Child Correctly in a Seat Belt For your child to properly fit in a seat belt, he or she must be tall enough to sit without slouching and be able to:
Additionally:
Remember, always check your child’s belt fit in every vehicle. A booster seat may be needed in some vehicles and not in others. If the seat belt does not fit properly yet, your child should continue to use a booster seat. Modeling Seat Belt Safety As a parent, you are your kids’ strongest influence when it comes to modeling safe driving practices, including buckling up every time you get in the car. Teach your family that safety is the responsibility of all passengers as well as the driver. Tweens (8-14)As your child grows, you may face challenges enforcing seat belt safety. Life as a parent is full of compromises, but seat belt safety is never up for negotiation. Follow these pointers and set the example of buckling up every time you get into the car. And remember: Never give up until they buckle up! NOTE: All children under 13 ride in the back seat for maximum safety. You’re the #1 Influence: Make Sure Your Tween is Properly Buckled Up the Whole Ride, Every TimeSeat Belt Safety Starts With Good Role Models Learning the importance of wearing a seat belt starts with a good role model—and that’s you. As a parent or caregiver, you are the number one influence on your child’s seat belt safety. Research shows that children whose parents buckle up are much more likely to buckle up themselves. Consistency is Key Consistently remind your children to buckle up properly the whole ride, and never assume they’re buckled up! Learn tips to motivate your tweens to buckle up, and make it a rule in your family that everyone follows the same practices as you: Always buckle up before moving the car, no matter how short or routine the drive, and make sure all children are buckled up properly. The Proper Seat Belt Fit for Your Child The risk of injury among child passengers is significantly higher when their seat belts are loose and/or improperly positioned. Learn about the proper seat belt fit for your child and why your children may not be wearing their seat belts correctly. Front or Back—When is the Front Seat Safe for My Child? All children under age 13 should ride in the back seat for maximum safety. The back seat is the safest place for your children because most crashes occur in the front of the car and the back seat is farthest from this impact. Why Parents and Caregivers Forget About or Forego Seat Belt Safety We know life as a parent is full of distractions and often hectic, making it easy to forget or forego buckling up altogether. See if any of these excuses for not buckling up sound familiar, then do whatever it takes to buckle up and make sure your kids do the same:
Tips to Motivate Your Tweens to Buckle UpGetting your kids to properly buckle up and stay buckled can be a battle of wills. There are several reasons why children 8 to 14 may forget or not want to wear their seat belts. For as many reasons as your kids can protest against wearing a seat belt, we’ve got tips to help you motivate them to buckle up. Tweens are going through several developmental stages—social, cognitive and emotional—which offer helpful insights into what makes sense to them and what motivates them. Learn about the developmental stages and motivational messages get your kids to buckle up properly, the whole ride, every time. It’s Non-Negotiable: Tween Seat Belt SafetyWe know you make every effort to keep your kids safe. However, parenting can be a hectic job. The daily routine of getting your kids to and from school and other activities can be hurried and chaotic, creating an environment where insisting on wearing a seat belt is not top of mind. See if you face these five challenges to getting tweens to wear — and stay in — their seat belts. No Matter How Hurried or Chaotic, Don’t Negotiate! As a parent, sometimes you let your kids have their way. But their safety should never be up for negotiation, no matter how much they push back on the seat belts being uncomfortable or unnecessary for just a “short drive.” Here are some tips to help you win the seat belt battle:
Teenagers57% of 13 and 14-year-old passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2020 were known to be unrestrained It’s been a long time since your little ones transitioned from a booster seat into an adult seat belt, and now they’re teenagers. Think it’s time to relax? Think again. The majority of teens involved in fatal crashes aren’t wearing their seat belts. Buckling up is not a one-time conversation—it’s ongoing. Set the example by always wearing your seat belt, and remind your teens buckling up is the law. To learn more, visit our Teen Driving section. Search for more resources |