Considering how important seat belts are, the general lack of knowledge that people have of them is quite disappointing. And while we’ve already discussed key seat belt safety statistics and facts, there is always more to learn when it comes to seat belts. To be more specific, people fail to realize the real-world implications that seat belts have. To help remedy this, we thought it would be useful to put together a brief article about this subject. If this is something that you want to learn more about, read on as we talk about everything you need to know about seat belt safety.
Seat Belts and Safety
Driving is one of the most dangerous activities that Americans engage in. This becomes even more worrisome when you consider how often they happen. Indeed, car accidents and car crashes are common occurrences in the United States. In fact, car crashes killed over 42,000 people in 2020 alone. When it comes to car crashes and accidents, your seat belt is the main thing that’s safeguarding your life. This isn’t an exaggeration as simply wearing a seat belt can drastically increase your chances of survival. Seat belts dramatically reduce the risk of death and serious injury among drivers and front-seat passengers. To be more specific, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%.
Another thing you have to remember when it comes to seat belts and safety is that accidents or car crashes can happen anywhere and at any time. People falsely assume that they don’t have to wear seat belts when they’re driving nearby. This just isn’t the case. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration details that most fatal car crashes and accidents occur within 25 miles of their home.
Seat Belts and Insurance Rates
Aside from protecting you, seat belts also have a pretty significant impact on your insurance rates. Since more and more states are adopting seat belt legislation, it has started to have a real effect on insurance rates. Indeed, incurring penalties can hurt you financially when they go on your record as your insurance company will take note of seat belt violations and adjust your rates accordingly.
This is why you’ll want to check with your insurance agent before you sign up for new car insurance to see what kind of policies they have on minor violations. If you’ve incurred seat belt related violations, it would be best to see if your insurers have a minor violation forgiveness that will help keep your insurance rates low.
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to furthering your understanding of seat belts and how they work. With that being said, we’ve only scratched the surface of everything you need to know about seat belts. Be sure to check the site for part three so you can learn more about seat belts. If you need a quick refresher, feel free to look back on the first article we’ve done on this subject.
If you want to learn more about seat belts or are in need of seat belt repair services, contact Safety Restore now to find a compatible service for your car! We’re a world leader in post-accident restorations specializing in seat belts and airbag modules. For more information on what we can do for you, visit our website today!
