Driver Safety: The Importance of Wearing a Seat Belt

One of the most important decisions a driver can make is wearing a seat belt. The IIHS indicates that a lap and shoulder seat belt can reduce the risk of a fatal injury by as much as 60% in a sport utility vehicle (SUV), van or pickup truck and nearly 45% in a car.

Additionally, the NHTSA noted two distressing statistics related to seat belt safety:

• In 2021, 26,325 passenger vehicle occupants were killed. About 50% of those killed were not buckled (based on known seat belt use).
• Seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts, in 2017 alone.

Despite those indicators, many people still choose to not buckle up before beginning their trip. To help keep you and your teammates safe, below are a few resources to review and share.

• NHTSA Seat Belt Page
• IIHA Seat Belts Overview

In addition to informing your team members of the importance of safety belt use, it’s critical to implement a seatbelt use company policy. Choosing to wear a seat belt is a simple decision that can save lives. For additional information, please contact your loss control consultant.