Wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect yourself in a car, and in Oregon, it is the law (see box below). Seatbelts are designed to secure occupants in their seats during a collision or sudden stop, preventing them from being thrown around inside the vehicle, which can lead to severe injury or death. Seat belts can significantly reduce the risk of injury or death in a car crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a seat belt in the front seat can reduce fatalities by 45% and moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%.
Numerous safety statistics and studies highlight the importance of wearing a seatbelt, demonstrating its effectiveness in saving lives and reducing the severity of injuries.
1, Seatbelts are proven to save lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passengers by 45% and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%. In the event of a crash, wearing a seatbelt helps to distribute the force of impact over the more substantial parts of the body—namely, the pelvis and chest—while minimizing movement. This significantly reduces the likelihood of being ejected from the vehicle, which is often fatal.
2. Wearing a seatbelt can reduce the severity of injuries. In the event of a collision, an unbelted person may be thrown against hard surfaces inside the vehicle or collide with other passengers, increasing the risk of head, neck, and spinal injuries. Seatbelts work to limit movement and keep passengers in the optimal position to absorb the crash forces, thereby reducing trauma to vital organs and bones.
3. Rrear-seat passengers are equally at risk if they don’t buckle up. Studies show that passengers in the back who don’t wear seatbelts are at greater risk of injury themselves and can injure other people in the car during a collision due to the forces they exert on those wearing seatbelts.
4. Wearing a seatbelt is also the law in most states. Laws requiring seatbelt use help to encourage safer driving habits and lower overall accident-related injuries and fatalities. Failing to wear a seatbelt can result in fines, and more importantly, it may lead to a sense of complacency or neglect about other safety precautions in the vehicle.
Oregon law requires that all motor vehicle operators and passengers be properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness unless all safety-belt-equipped seating positions are occupied by other persons. This applies to passenger cars, pickup trucks, motor homes, and fee-based people transport carrying fifteen or fewer persons. Vehicle owners are required to maintain belt systems in working order. Contact the team at EPB&B Insurance and we will help you find the right auto insurance to protect you and your loved ones.