Hundreds of accidents happen every single day, which serves as a reminder that driver safety is very important. Every driver has a responsibility to ensure that they are taking all the necessary precautions to facilitate safety. One of the most common practices involves wearing a seat belt when the car is in motion. Let’s look at eight reasons to fasten your seat belt while driving.
Seat belt Save Lives
When wearing a seat belt, you increase your chance of surviving a crash. Many individuals are alive today after a horrible accident only because they were wearing a seat belt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2016, seat belts saved roughly 15,000 lives, while nearly 2,500 more lives would have been saved if everyone had buckled up. There’s no disadvantage if you fasten your seat belt and prevent getting hurt in a car accident or worse.
It’s the Law
The majority of states in the U.S have seat belt laws on the books, while New Hampshire stands alone as the only state that has no enforceable laws for adults for the wearing of seat belts in a vehicle. It’s a petty crime to get busted for when it could have been avoided with a simple click. There’s no need to risk wasting money on fines for simply not fastening your seat belt.
Enhances Airbag Effectiveness
Seat belts are key components of wider injury prevention measures and safety systems, such as airbags. Wearing a seat belt helps significantly when an airbag is deployed, preventing the body from shifting in an awkward position in a crash. It helps the airbag to strike your upper chest as it’s intended to do and reduce the crash impact.
Prevents Auto Insurance Claim Denial
In the instance that you weren’t wearing a seat belt during a motor vehicle accident, your auto insurance might decide to not cover your claim if you file one. This could happen even if the accident was unequivocally the other driver’s fault. That could leave you in a tough spot with expensive medical bills, for example.
No Forward Thrust
A number of different circumstances can cause you to slam on your breaks, like a deer running across the street. When you have to stop abruptly, that motion throws the body forward. Wearing seat belts prevents the head or torso being thrust forward in an accident, which can cause serious injuries.
Reduce Risk of Death
Thousands of individuals are killed each year in motor vehicle accidents. Seat belts significantly reduce the risk of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among drivers and front-seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%.
Stop Ejection
In rollover crashes, the chances of getting ejected in a crash increases. Seat belts stops drivers and passengers from being ejected during such a crash. According to one source, people not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash.
Prevent Increased Auto Insurance Rates
Seat belt violations could cause your auto insurance company to increase your rates. Some companies increase rates with the first violation exponentially, while others make small monthly increases.
It doesn’t hurt to fasten your seat belt while driving. It is a good habit to cultivate and a law that all drivers and passengers should follow. Wearing a seat belt saves lives and reduces the risk of serious injuries.
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