More Seat Belt Use Is Lowering Motor Vehicle Accident Deaths

Responsible drivers in Shelby will be happy to hear that motorists across the United States are increasing their usage of seat belts. Common sense tells us that seat belts save lives, but this idea is also backed up by scientific research and statistics. When an individual uses his or her safety harness while riding in the front seat of a car, that person is 45 percent more likely to survive a motor vehicle accident.

According to the latest issue of AAA Midwest Traveler, Americans are 1 percent more likely to use a motor vehicle safety harness as compared to last year. One year ago, 86 percent of drivers and passengers were using seat belts. Now, the figure has risen to 87 percent. While this small increase may seem laughable on paper, when the figure of 1 percent is expanded across the entire nation, the number of lives saved is considerable.

Statistics show that when United States seat belt use averages go up, the number of motor vehicle accident deaths decrease. Still, there are some segments of the population that still require convincing with regard to seat belt usage. Those are primarily teens, people who drive at night and pickup truck drivers.

Tennessee is a state where seat belt laws are primary laws. A police officer can pull over and ticket a Tennessee driver if the driver and/or a passenger in the front seats are failing to use proper safety restraints. Statistics show that states with primary safety belt laws tend to have higher safety belt usage figures.

Seat belts save lives in Shelby, but they are not infallible. Indeed, in a severe motor vehicle accident, no amount of safety equipment will be sufficient to prevent serious injury and/or death of passengers and drivers. If such an injury-causing accident is the fault of another driver, victims may be able to seek restitution and justice against that driver in court. When successfully navigated, restitution in such cases can be vital to a victim’s ability to pay for his or her medical care required to recover from injuries.