One important fact about seat belts everyone should know is that wearing seat belts can help save lives. It is 2018, and you would be surprised by the number of people that simply do not wear their seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2016:

  • 90.1% of the U.S. population wears seat belts.
  • Seat belts saved 14,668 lives during vehicle accidents.
  • 2,456 additional lives could have been saved if everyone had used their seat belts.
  • There were approximately 27.5 million people who did not wear seat belts.1

Clicking on seat belt

 

Out of the serious accidents in 2016, based on data provided by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control):

  • There was a total of 23,714 deaths of drivers and passengers.
  • Between 53% and 62% of teens aged 13 to 19 and adults ages 20 to 44 accounted for the largest part of these deaths and were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the vehicle crashes.2

Myths About Seat Belts All Truck Drivers Need to Know

Some of the more common myths people hold about seat belt usage include:

 

  1. My vehicle has airbags so I don’t need to wear my seat belt. Airbags are designed to work with seat belts and not alone.
  2. You can be trapped in a fire or under water if you wear your seat belt. These types of accidents are very rare. If you don’t wear your seat belt, you could be knocked unconscious and wouldn’t be able to escape.
  3. If you are only driving a short distance, you don’t need to wear your seat belt. Most fatal and serious accidents occur within 25 miles of home and at speeds of less than 40 mph.
  4. You are safer in a truck, so wearing a seat belt is not necessary. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risks of fatal injuries by 60%.1

As evidenced, wearing a seat belt can help save your life and the life of others should you get into an accident.

 

Man driving a truck

 

For new truck seats with seat belts, replacement seat belts, and other safety equipment for your truck, please feel free to contact Suburban Seating & Safety at 1-844-SAS-SEAT today!

Sources:

  1. https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbelts/facts.html
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