Vital Signs

Millions of Americans are not protected from injury because they aren't wearing their seat belts on every trip.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people age 5 - 34.

• More than 2.3 million adult drivers and passengers were treated in emergency departments for injuries from crashes in 2009.
• In one year alone, deaths and injuries to drivers and passengers from crashes cost $70 billion in medical and lost work.
• Young adults age 18-34 have the highest crash-related injury rates of all adults.

Many factors affect seat belt use.

• Adults age 18-34 are almost 10% less likely to wear a seat belt than adults 35 years or older.
• Men are 10% less likely to wear seat belts than women.
• Adults who live in rural areas are 10% less likely to wear seat belts (78% use) than adults who live in urban and suburban areas (87% use).

Using a seat belt on every trip is the most effective way to prevent injury and death.

• Seat belt use reduces serious injuries and deaths in crashes by 50%. Air bags provide added protection but are not a substitute for seat belts in a crash.
• Seat belt use is higher in states that have primary enforcement laws (88%) than in those states that do not have them (79%).
• In 2009, about 12,000 more injuries would have been prevented and about 450 more lives saved if all states had primary enforcement seat belt laws.
• In 2010, 19 states--where 1 in 4 adult Americans live--did not have a primary law.