6 Interesting Facts About Seatbelt Use in the United States
Decades of research and practical experience have taught us that seatbelts are important and that seatbelts save lives. However, as an accidental death lawyer, I recently read information about seatbelt use in the United States from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
According to the IIHS:
- Males are less likely to wear seatbelts than females.
- 16-24 year olds are less likely to wear seatbelts in the front seat than older drivers and passengers.
- Drivers of older cars are less likely to wear seatbelts than drivers of newer cars.
- Drivers who have consumed alcohol are less likely to wear seatbelts than drivers who have not had alcohol.
- Pickup truck occupants are less likely to wear seatbelts than occupants of other vehicles.
- People are less likely to wear seatbelts at night than during the day.
While seatbelt use is generally high, there are still some that are not getting the message that seatbelts – for everyone, in every vehicle – save lives. Do you always wear your seatbelt? Is there any situation where you might not wear a seatbelt? Please leave a comment and let us know your thoughts on this topic.
*Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Q&A: Safety Belts #13, June 2011
