Car Accidents and Safety Belts

Before 2012, the United States had enjoyed a dramatic decrease in motor vehicle deaths. Then, in 2012, according to the National Safety Council, 34,080 people were killed in car accidents -- a five percent increase. One of the reasons for the increase: THE ECONOMY! According to Kenneth P. Kolosh, the statistics manager for the National Safety Council, economic recessions have "supressed traffic fatalities", most notably in the early '80's and early '90's when there were recessions. Now that our economy is allegedly on the upswing, more people are driving and, as a result, more people are getting killed. However, as always, deaths can be prevented. Two-thirds of all fatal crashes in 2011, as an example, were caused by one or more of four factors: improper or no seatlbelt useage; speeding, drunk driving or "distracted driving." Of the 34,080 deaths, almost 13,000 were suffered by unbelted occupants. Thankfully "only" about 15% of the driving public do not generally use seatbelts. But those 15%, cause almost 50% of vehicle-occupant deaths. Though arguably due to the seriouslness of the crash many unbelted passengers would never have survived, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about 3,384 people would of those people would be living today had a seatbelt been in use. One scary statistic is that belt use is lowest among people age 16 to 24, with only 74% of that age group using seatbelts. Only one bit of advice helps and we've heard it since we were all kids: BUCKLE UP. Again, seatbelts are not going to guarantee that you survive a car wreck, but it seldom can harm you, (though there are cases where some seatbelts have done more harm than good.) Interestingly, there has been some talk about "belt-ignition interlocks" that make it impossible to start a car without first buckling up. You may recall in the 1970's there was a push for that, but it was not only unpopular. People simply overrode the system by placing the seatblet behind them and buckling it! With school starting let us all do our best to beware of children and other pedestrians. Have a safe school year!