BOISE – As we approach the 2/3 mark of the 100 Deadliest Days – the time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic deaths soar – AAA is urging the public to double down on seat belt use.
“More than 40,000 people die each year in vehicle crashes nationwide, and seat belts are an important piece of safety equipment that can help prevent death and serious injury,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “At last count, 87% of Idahoans are consistently wearing a seat belt. But turn on a TV or pick up a newspaper, and you’ll find tragic stories where a seat belt may have made a big difference.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if everyone who died in a crash without wearing a seat belt had done so, half of them may have been spared.
In a crash, there are three collisions – the vehicle strikes an object, the human body strikes something, and internal organs and the spine are jolted. Seat belts can significantly reduce the damage associated with the second and third of these collisions.
“Cars have crumple zones, and many have air bags, but seat belt use is part of the complete safety solution,” Conde said. “We ask that drivers buckle up and encourage their passengers to do likewise. Even if you’re an accomplished driver, traveling at low speeds or a short distance from home, none of us are exempt from the laws of physics.”
In a 65 MPH crash, a 100-lb. person weighs 6,500 pounds in crash force. With the average driver needing at least 1.5 seconds to see a danger, react, and start applying the brakes, some stopping distances are too great to prevent a crash, making seat belts even more critical.
Each year, AAA’s Traffic Safety Culture Index compares driver attitudes and behaviors behind the wheel. While 95% of survey respondents felt that drowsy driving was very or extremely dangerous, and 94% and 93% felt the same about impaired and distracted driving, just 76% considered failure to wear a seat belt to be very or extremely dangerous.
“When it comes to seat belts, there seems to be a significant disconnect with how high the stakes really are,” Conde said. “We’re hoping that everyone will do their part to raise awareness, including on social media. Let’s be safety ambassadors who help ensure that our friends and loved ones stay safe.”