Seat Belt Laws

Background Information

Safety belts are the best defense against traffic crashes. A person is twice as likely to die or sustain serious injury in a crash if unbelted.

Safety belts are effective in preventing total ejection from a vehicle in a crash.

Airbags do not replace the need for safety belts. When used with safety belts, airbags further reduce the risk of death or injury in the event of a crash.

Safety belts hold the driver in place, helping the driver maintain control of the car during a collision. The lap belt should fit low and snug across the hips while the shoulder belt keeps the driver from pitching forward into the steering wheel, dashboard and windshield.

For an adult, the shoulder harness should fit closely against the chest, never under the arm. The lap belt should fit low and snug across the hips, never across the abdomen.

For a child, the shoulder harness should fit over the shoulder and across the breastbone. The lap belt should fit low and snug across the hips.

For pregnant women, keep the lap belt low across the hips, never across the abdomen.

General Facts

Twice as many people die each year from traffic crashes than from violent crimes. (NSC)

Not only is it much safer to wear a safety belt, in Virginia it’s the law.

Safety belts are effective in preventing total ejection of occupants from vehicles in collisions. Only 1 percent of the occupants using safety restraints were totally ejected, compared with 21 percent of the unrestrained occupants.

Medical costs resulting from traffic crashes are twice as costly for occupants who are not belted.

An insured driver who routinely wears a safety belt pays an additional $40 in insurance premiums each year to cover crash-related medical expenses for those who do not wear safety belts. (NSC)

When a driver is buckled with a safety belt, children are likely to be buckled 87 percent of the time. When a driver is not buckled in a safety belt, children are likely to be buckled only 24 percent of the time. (NSC)

Automatic safety belts require no action by the occupant to fasten the belt.

There are three types of automatic safety belts for the front seat. Note, however, that some of these require some manual activity to maximize their safety features.

Motorized shoulder belt with a manual lap belt. The motorized shoulder belt is attached to a track above the door and wraps around the occupant when the ignition key is turned on and the door is closed. The occupant manually fastens the separate lap belt.

Door mounted lap and shoulder belt. This involves a non-motorized lap and shoulder belt that is attached to the door and wraps around the occupant when the door is closed. Note that a special belt is needed to anchor a child safety seat.

Door mounted shoulder belt with manual lap belt. This involves a non-motorized shoulder harness that is attached to the door and wraps around the occupant when the door is closed. The occupant manually fastens the separate lap belt. (NHTSA)

Manual safety belts require the occupant to actively move the safety belt into place and fasten it. Manual belts do not have an automatic mechanism that makes them function.

Statistics

When safety belts are used correctly in passenger vehicles, they reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passengers by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. (NHTSA)

In 2000, safety belts saved the lives of approximately 11,889 passenger-vehicle occupants over 4 years of age.

In 2000, if all passenger-vehicle occupants over age 4 had worn safety belts, approximately 21,127 lives could have been saved.

Twice as many people die each year from traffic crashes than from violent crimes. (NSC)

During an average life span of 75 years, more than 86 out of 100 Americans will experience at least one motor vehicle crash.

People who do not use safety belts are 2 to 4 times more likely to be hospitalized for injuries resulting from a motor vehicle crash.

Treatment costs for motorists not buckled in a safety belt are 2 to 7 times higher than for those who are buckled.

Safety belt usage in the U.S. currently averages 70 percent. If this rate increased to 75 percent, Americans would save $684 million annually in health care expenses. Income taxes and costs for public assistance would be reduced by $328 million each year. (NSC)

Of the children under age 5 who died in car crashes in 2000, nearly 47 % were not buckled up. (NHTSA)

 

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