The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (also known as the NHTSA for short) wants to remind you to wear your seat belt every time that you’re in a vehicle. Despite years of “click it or ticket” campaigns, over 27.5 million people in the United States still don’t wear their seat belts. Every single car on the road these days (with the exception of very early “classic” vehicles) have seat belts built into them for a reason – they save lives.
Seat Belt Safety
The statistics on seat belt safety are astounding. Between the years of 2013 and 2017, over 69,000 people were saved by them. In 2017 alone, that number was 15,000. Imagine how many more fatalities there would be if vehicles didn’t come with seat belts. When wearing one of these safety restraints, make sure that it buckles properly and is fitted properly against your body. It should fit over your hips, as well as over your chest. In addition, even if your vehicle has working airbags, you need to wear your seat belt.
You Can Be Ticketed for Not Wearing a Seat Belt
In Ohio, you can be ticketed by law enforcement for not wearing your seat belt. The law pertains to both driver and passengers! Although you can’t be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt, if you commit another driving offense, such as speeding or not stopping long enough at a stop sign, without wearing a seat belt, it can be added onto your ticket. Not only do drivers and passengers need to wear seat belts, all children under the age of 15 must be in child restraint device or have buckled seat belts. It’s the law.
Car Accidents Happen When You Least Expect Them
Car accidents happen every single day. All that it takes is one person not paying attention to the road. If you aren’t wearing your seat belt, you could be severely injured. The stories of people getting ejected from their cars through the windshield are very true. You don’t want to end up as one of those statistics, so wear your seat belt at all times, even if your vehicle has working airbags.
If you have been injured in an auto accident, whether you were wearing a seat belt or not, please call our experienced team of Workers’ Compensation attorneys at NRS today!
