The Facts

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

  • Safety belt use nationwide in 2004 stood at 80 percent.
  • Lap/shoulder safety belts, when used, reduce your risk of fatal injury in a passenger car by 45 percent. In light trucks, including pickups, vans, minivans and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), belts reduce your risk of death by 60 percent.
  • The risk of serious injury in passenger cars and light trucks is reduced by 50 and 65 percent respectively.
  • From 1975 to 2003, safety belts saved nearly 180,000 lives.
  • In 2003 alone:
    • Safety belts saved an estimated 14,903 lives
    • Child safety seats saved an estimated 401 lives
    • Air bags saved 2,488 lives
  • If everyone over the age of 4 used available occupant protection (child safety seats for children and lap/shoulder belts for older children and adults), in 2003, nearly 6,200 additional lives could have been saved.

Given those numbers, it's easy to see why wearing a safety belt is good insurance - and the best safety move you and your passengers can make.