In an accident, wearing a seat belt could save your life. Despite multiple safety campaigns, many Floridians do not buckle up.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released seat belt figures for 2013. Nationally, about 87 percent of Americans use their seat belt, a figure that has held steady for two years.
NHTSA makes the following points:
- Regionally, seat belt use increased substantially in the Northeast between 2012 and 2013.
- Overall, seat belt use by motorists driving in heavy traffic increased.
- Seat belt use is higher in states with primary enforcement laws. Primary enforcement states, like Florida, permit law enforcement to ticket motorists for not wearing seat belts without observing another infraction first.
Although Florida has primary enforcement, the statistics on seat belt use in Florida raise some questions. According to NHTSA, only 51 percent of the individuals killed in motor vehicle accidents in our state were using seat belts in 2012. NHTSA estimates 190 lives might have been saved if motorists had worn seat belts.
Accidents caused by the mistake and negligence of other drivers in Florida happen every day. In 2012, more than 1,000 people died on our roads and highways.
Using a seat belt reduces the risk of serious injury and death. While some people feel their air bag can save them, air bags are intended to reduce impact, not provide restraint to a body suddenly ejected through a car window.
Drive safely and wear your seat belt every time you ride in a car, even for short distances. If injured in an automobile accident in Sarasota County, seek experienced legal advice in Bradenton.