Seat Belt Safety In Missouri
The importance of seatbelts cannot be overstated. Despite enormous strides in seat belt safety, thousands of lives are lost each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Click It or Ticket campaign statistics reveal that a 100% seat belt usage rate would save over 3,000 lives each year.
Even when seat belts are not sufficient to eliminate injuries by using them in conjunction airbags, motorists can reduce the incidences of fatalities and severe injuries. More importantly, the use of a seatbelt reduces the risk of being thrown out of a vehicle. This is vital because occupants of a vehicle who are thrown from a vehicle are fatally injured 79% of the time.
Seat belt safety statistics in Missouri reveal that our state only uses seat belts only 79% of the time. The national average is 86%. Adolescents in Missouri have an even lower rate of seat belt usage. According to the NHTSA, teenagers use seatbelts only 67% of the time.
Such low seatbelt usage rates among teenagers when combined with their propensity to drive while distracted by smartphones, paints a frightening picture. When officers are able to identify if car accident victims are wearing seatbelts, 69% of fatal accidents in Missouri involve passengers and drivers who were not wearing seatbelts.
An even more important statistic, is that out all of the people who were not killed or injured in car accidents in Missouri, 97% of them were wearing a seat belt during the time of the accident. In response to these tragic deaths, the Missouri Blueprint To Save More Lives campaign contains a four year plan to address the number of fatalities.
The campaign is a partnership between the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety and nonprofit organizations. Residents throughout Missouri are encouraged to participate. There are many ways to contribute to the Arrive Alive campaign.
Peterson & Associates, P.C. takes the safety of Missouri motorists very seriously. The firm’s personal injury lawyers guide injured car accident victims through the legal process. If you have been the victim of negligence, call us today.