Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 | 2 a.m.
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Hundreds of Nevadans die on our roadways each year, and the holidays can be especially dangerous. "Ensuring that people get home safely comes down to certain key behaviors that haven't changed much over the years: wearing seatbelts, not driving impaired and not driving with distractions," said Andrew Bennett, Public Information Officer for Zero Fatalities. "The numbers of unrestrained fatalities are down this year over last, but there are people who won't make it home because they didn't buckle up." Wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest, most basic things anyone can do to get to their destination safely.
Think twice, gentlemen
Young men are more prone to risky behavior in general, including driving without a seatbelt and driving impaired. "We often see a correlation between an increase in impaired driving and an increase in unrestrained fatalities," Bennett said. Men ages 26 to 35 years old comprise the largest number of victims of unbelted-occupant fatal and serious injury crashes. according to the Highway Safety Plan, 2019.
400+ unbelted vehicle occupants lost their lives and more than 1,000 were seriously injured in traffic crashes on Nevada roadways between 2012 and 2017, says the Strategic Highway Safety Plan
45% of individuals who were involved in a fatal car crash in 2018 were not buckled up (83 out of 183 occupant fatalities were unbelted, according to the FARS Report).
An unbuckled motorist is 75% more likely to be killed in a crash, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Don't forget that seatbelts save lives.
"The statistics are more than a number. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of families who won't have a loved one with them over the holidays simply because they didn't buckle up," Bennett said. "Just buckle up."
To get children comfortable with always wearing a seatbelt, lead by example. "Kids are so impressionable, it's important to set good examples as parents. It should never be an option to not wear a seatbelt," Bennett said. Even if your child isn't old enough to wear a seatbelt, they're observing you and what you're doing.
Seatbelts Save Lives
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 45% of occupants who were involved in a fatal car crash in 2018 were not buckled up. This number increased to 50% during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. "We tend to see more crashes and fatalities over the winter holidays because there is a higher percentage of vehicles on the roadways. A higher percentage of vehicles means a higher percentage of people who are unrestrained in the vehicle," Bennett said. About 94% of Nevadans buckle up but fatalities occur each year simply because of the small number of people who don't.
Develop a Habit
It should be a habit to wear your seatbelt every time you get in a car—including in cabs and rideshares—and to remind anyone you're riding with to wear one also. "What we've seen with focus groups is that someone else telling an individual to buckle up can help," Bennett said. Be sure to wear your seatbelt correctly, with the belt across both your lap and shoulder. Wearing a seatbelt behind your arm or back doesn't help; it can actually be harmful in the event of a wreck because it can dangerously redistribute crash forces.
