During a car crash, a buckled seat belt keeps you safe and secure inside your vehicle. Seat belts are the best defense against drivers that may be distracted or impaired. In 2017, seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved 14,955 lives according to The US Department of Transportation. Seat belt use by adult front-seat passengers in 2021 was 90.4%. That’s up from 70.7% in 2000.
Safety belt use – talk it up, Atlanta!
It’s hard to believe that almost 10% of adults in our community today still don’t use their seat belts. However, many of us who remember when seat belts were the exception and not the rule, understand that it’s a work in progress. Communicating, advocating, and reminding our friends and family members in our local communities around the Metro Atlanta area, and throughout Georgia, is essential to closing the knowledge gap and saving more lives.
Why doesn’t everyone use a seat belt?
One of the most popular reasons a usage gap still exists today – many people believe it’s just a short-distance ride and elect not to put on their seat belts. Car accident injuries do not discriminate by location, too often ending in fatal crash accidents! The other factor is age. More than half of teens (13-19 years) who died in crashes in 2018 were not buckled up at the time of the crash. Don’t be fooled or over-confident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 52% of accidents occur within five miles of a driver’s home and 69% within ten miles.
One of the most important steps we can take as drivers and passengers are to buckle up! The consequences of not buckling up are clear: 51% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2020 were unrestrained.
Akin & Tate is on a mission to keep Georgia safe!
We encourage all drivers and passengers to always buckle up. Statistics show that Georgia residents using seat belts lags behind the national average slightly. Working together in our community, communicating this message on a regular basis, we can help make people safer on our roads.
A few quick seat belt reminders from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):
1. Buckle up – it is the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in an auto accident.
2. Air bags do not replace seat belts – they complement one another.
3. Study the CDC guidelines for buckling up safely, including NEVER putting your shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm.
4. Seat belt fit matters.
Call an Experienced Car Accident Attorney – Call Akin & Tate
If you have suffered a personal injury in Georgia caused by another person’s negligence – contact the auto accident attorneys at Akin & Tate immediately. The moments after a car accident are critical, starting with the police report and gathering information. Proving the most common car accident injury claims can be complicated. The experienced trial lawyers at Akin & Tate will help you gather evidence for your case and work with you step-by-step to increase your likelihood of settling or winning your case.
The car accident lawyers at Akin & Tate specialize in representing auto accident victims. We’ll fight to prove your claim, and represent you in negotiations with the insurance company representatives and lawyers so you can maximize the amount you are entitled to for your personal injuries.
SOURCES:
https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/seatbelts/facts.html
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813072