Making seatbelts mandatory to wear in a vehicle has been one of the most successful road-safety interventions to date. According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Association (NHTSA), wearing a seatbelt saved an estimated 15,000 lives in a road accident. While seatbelt compliance rates are above 90%, some individuals are still not wearing seatbelts when in a moving vehicle. This one state is doubling down on individuals who are not wearing seatbelts while driving.
The effects of seatbelts on safety when driving
Driving while wearing a seatbelt is considered a foundational safety policy and road law; however, it is easy to forget that there was a time when wearing seatbelts was not mandatory. While for most it is almost like a reflex to strap in, when seatbelts first became mandatory by the federal government to be installed in vehicles in 1966, it was still not compulsory to wear a seatbelt until states began enacting their own policies regarding the matter. Today, New Hampshire is the only state that does not have any laws requiring adults to wear seatbelts.
Seatbelt usage has a dramatic effect on your safety if you are involved in a vehicle crash. In 2023, 23,959 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in a road traffic accident. Of those 23,959, 49% were not wearing a seatbelt. According to the NHTSA, wearing a seatbelt is the single most effective intervention you can do for yourself to prevent fatality or serious injury from a vehicle crash. In 2023, 56% of individuals killed in a car accident at night were not wearing a seatbelt.
This state cracks down on seatbelt policies
Over the recent Memorial Day weekend, the state of Virginia launched its ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign to remind families and drivers who were traveling over the weekend that wearing a seatbelt is not only a significant safety prevention mechanism, but is also required by state law. Automobile companies are also responsible for ensuring that they have properly installed seatbelts in vehicles.
“Ensuring the safety of every driver and passenger on our roads is a responsibility we all share, and it begins with the simple act of buckling up. Seat belts are one of the most effective tools we have to reduce injuries and save lives in the event of a crash,” said Virginia DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “I urge everyone to make seat belt use a non-negotiable part of their daily routine. It’s not just about following the law—it’s about protecting yourself and the people riding with you.”
In addition, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will be kicking off a new seatbelt law, beginning July 1. From the start of the new month, which will require all backseat passengers to wear a seatbelt.
Wearing a seatbelt is part of responsible road usage
Wearing a seatbelt is not only about concern for your own safety, but also promotes the practice of being a responsible road user. If you are going to be responsible for driving passengers, it is important that you are aware of the steps you must take to ensure the safety of your passengers, and that includes ensuring that everyone straps in.
In addition to seatbelt usage, as a driver, you must always ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy to transport passengers. If your vehicle has been subject to a recent vehicle recall and you have received a notice regarding your vehicle needing to come in to have the problem amended, you must do so as soon as possible to ensure that all road users, including yourself, are safe and that your vehicle is not a hazard or danger to the safety of all on the road.
