According to a report compiled by the NHTSA, the nonuse of seat belts is a serious highway safety problem throughout the United States. A report published by Glassbrenner & Ye, 2007 revealed that nearly one-fifth of front-seat passengers were not wearing a seat belt in 2007; leading to increased fatalities on the roadways. Every passenger vehicle sold in the United States must have a seatbelt reminder system set in place, but drivers often fail to buckle up when it is time to do so.
Today, we will take a closer look at seatbelt reminder systems, their role in road safety, and how we can further reduce the potential for danger on the roadways.
The Role of a Seatbelt Reminder System
Did you know that getting behind the wheel of your vehicle is one of the most dangerous things that you can do on a day-to-day basis? According to a report published by the NHTSA in conjunction with the United States Department of Transportation, nearly 50% of passengers killed in vehicular crashes were not properly using their seatbelts in 2022. The report goes on to suggest that seatbelts could have saved thousands of additional lives had the passengers simply been buckled.
What Does a Seatbelt Reminder System Do?
Seatbelt reminder systems do ostensibly what their name implies: they tell drivers to make sure that they are buckled up before departing for their destination. Vehicle seatbelt systems utilize weight sensors to detect whether or not the front passenger seat is occupied. The driver-side seatbelt sensor will always illuminate until the driver has fastened their seatbelt.
Seatbelt reminder systems are just one of the many ways that we can take tangible steps toward operating in a safer and more health-focused capacity. Seatbelts operate as one of the primary protection features for modern vehicles and these systems should not be ignored. Buckling up your seatbelt will work in conjunction with other safety elements such as an airbag.
To get the full functionality of a seatbelt reminder system, it is important to utilize the system properly. While buckling up may sound like a simple process, there are a few things that you need to remember before putting your car in drive and taking off.
- Fit Matters – Make sure that your seatbelts are fitted to your body. Inquire with your dealer about seat belt adjusters, if necessary.
- Multi-System Defense – Airbags will not help you by themselves, especially if you need them to save your life. Airbags are meant to work with seatbelts instead of replacing them entirely.
- ALWAYS Buckle Up – No drive is so short that a seatbelt is unnecessary. The vast majority of collisions occur when a driver is near their home. Don’t assume the best and instead prepare for the worst by always buckling up.
A Few Key Stats to Remember!
Car accidents happen every day across the nation. In fact, the state of California saw 159,623 car accidents in 2022 that resulted in injuries or fatalities. According to research compiled by Kahane and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the simple act of buckling your seatbelt can have a profound impact on your life.
The research would go on to support such observable outcomes as:
- Can Reduce the Risk of Fatality by 45% in Passenger Vehicles
- Can Reduce the Risk of Fatality by 60% in Light Trucks
- Further Supports Efficacy of Air Bag System