Seat belts do reduce the risk of death and serious injury when motor vehicle crashes occur. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seat belts save more than 13,000 lives per year. It is estimated that more than 5,000 additional lives could be saved every year if every one wore their seat belts.
Seat belts also prevent or minimize the severity of life changing injuries. Just think, a major spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury being prevented just by the simple act of buckling up.
Teens in New Hampshire have an increased risk because New Hampshire is the only state in the country that does not require people eighteen years of age and above to wear seat belts. (aka…”adults don’t have to, why should I?”)
Due to the lack of an 18+ seat belt law, New Hampshire usually has the lowest or one of the lowest seat belt usage rates in the country. This also means that New Hampshire has the nation’s highest or one of the highest unbelted fatality rates (aka…number of people who die in crashes while not wearing seat belts).
Resources
Please check out the following resources as they provide some real information that could save your life or the life of someone you love.
NH Teen Driving Seat Belt Safety | Seat Belt Safety
NH Teen Driving Seat Belt Challenge
SeatCheck | www.seatcheck.org/
NH Child Passenger Safety | www.chadkids.org/injury_prevention/injury_center_programs_traffic_passenger.html