fbpx

Visit our offices in Kansas City, Liberty, St. Joe,
or our Virtual Office

NHTSA Says Seat Belts Could Have Saved Over 17,000 Lives in 2016

Thursday, Sep. 27th 2018

By: Eric Chaffin

 

 

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is renewing their efforts to get drivers and passengers to use their seat belts. In a report issued in 2018, they noted that seat belts save lives and that many of those killed in motor vehicle accidents are not restrained. In 2016 alone, for example, 44 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in traffic accidents were not using their seat belts at the time of the crashes.

Unrestrained Vehicle Fatalities
Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2007–2015 Final File and 2016 Annual Report File (ARF).

The administration teamed up with local law enforcement agencies in their annual Click It or Ticket campaign to encourage people to buckle up. Mandatory seat belt laws are now in effect in 49 states.

NHTSA Reports on Seat Belt Safety

The good news is that seat belt use is increasing. Between 2007 and 2016, use went up from 82.5 percent to 90.1 percent. Still, there are thousands of people killed on roadways because people are not complying with the law.

Even more concerning is the fact that many of these individuals are young people. Of those killed in traffic crashes, 62 percent of unrestrained vehicle occupants were in the 13-to-15 age group—the highest percentage of all age groups in the report. The next highest percentage of unrestrained occupants occurred in the 25-to-34 age group.

It also looks like men are less likely to use seat belts than women. Among male fatalities in 2016, 52 percent were unrestrained. Among female fatalities, 40 percent were unrestrained. Almost twice as many male occupants as female occupants were killed in 2016.

Individuals driving pickups also need to be more careful. Sixty percent of pickup drivers who were killed weren’t wearing seat belts, compared to 53 percent for SUV drivers, 42 percent for passenger car drivers, and 37 percent for van drivers.

On the other side of the spectrum, seat belts were found to have saved the lives of an estimated 14,668 passenger vehicle occupants five and older in 2016, while an estimated 328 children under the age of five were saved by their use of restraints.

Seat Belts Save Lives

The NHTSA seeks to remind drivers and passengers that the seat belt “is the single most effective vehicle safety technology.” They note that not only do seat belts keep occupants inside the vehicles, but they also prevent them from “acting as projectiles inside of the vehicle and hurting others.” They estimate that lap/shoulder seat belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger occupants by 45 percent, while reducing the risk of moderate-to-critical injury to front-seat passengers by 50 percent.

As for younger passengers, the NHTSA states that if all passengers five and older had worn seat belts, 17,124 lives could have been saved in 2016.


Google 5 Star Rating Motor Vehicle trial Lawyers Top 25 Hurt In An Accident?

Personal Injury

If you’ve been injured and aren’t sure where to turn, let us help. We represent individuals in many areas of personal injury including truck, auto and motorcycle accidents, property liability (slip & fall), spinal cord injuries, and more.

Worker's Comp

Injured at work? We can help! If you have suffered a work-related injury or illness, we can help ensure you get full and fair compensation under the law.

REAL PEOPLE HELPING REAL PEOPLE

Our Personal Injury & Worker's Comp Attorneys

Northland Injury Law: Personal Injury Lawyers in Northland Kansas City and Northwest Missouri.

Proudly serving: Gladstone, Liberty, Kansas City, North Kansas City, Saint Joseph, Plattsburg, Cameron, Chillicothe, Trenton, Sedalia, Warrensburg and many other areas in Missouri.

The Northland Injury Law Firm has been practicing in the Kansas City area for many years. Our founders, Max Von Erdsmannsdorff and Steve Mowry, built a strong foundation for the firm. Since Eric Bartlett joined the firm in 1996, Northland Injury Law has earned a reputation for success, honesty and compassion in personal injury and worker’s compensation.

I found Northland Injury Law to be very professional and honest! They kept me up to date on my case. I would highly recommend the whole firm for all your legal needs!!” – Michael T.

Northland Injury Law is proud of the relationships they’ve built with the clients they have served in the Northland and surrounding areas.  Their many great results for seriously injured people have helped their clients recover the significant economic losses that attend such serious injuries.

When it comes to a lawsuit after an accident or injury, representation matters! Most people do not realize that insurance companies have teams of lawyers, investigators, photographers and defense experts who immediately go to work following a serious accident involving their insureds.  They hire these people to minimize their exposure throughout the claims process and to reduce the amount received by the victim. Northland Injury Law aims to level the playing field for their clients.

This is an excellent law firm. They helped me out after an accident and did an awesome job. I would recommend this law firm to anyone who needs a good lawyer.” – Toni B.

Between them, Mr. Mowry and Mr. Bartlett have over  50 combined years of legal experience in the Kansas City Northland area. They have both been recognized by KC Magazine as “Top attorneys in Missouri and Kansas” and both have been recognized in the National Top 100 Trial Attorneys.

If you require the services of excellent local lawyers after an accident or injury, call Northland Injury Law today for a free consultation at 816-400-4878.

Latest Blog

How To Choose A Personal Injury Attorney

Accidents don't come with a warning, leaving you grappling with injuries and a complex web of legalities. It's the kind of situation that can thrust you into a whirlwind of uncertainty, where decisions matter more than ever. A guiding hand...

Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers about our Kansas City law firm, like how and when to file a suit for your Personal Injury & Worker’s Compensation.

View All FAQ's

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE EBOOKS!

Northland Injury Law © All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

Site Created by KC Web Specialists, LLC

Skip to content