Seat belts reduce or eliminate secondary collisions - the impact of your body on parts of the car, another occupant, or the pavement. And if you have an air bag, seat belts will help reduce the injury you could otherwise receive when the air bag is deployed.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S., 63% of all those killed in vehicle collisions were not wearing their seat belt. Here in the NWT, the rates are similar.
Consider this. Every two years, Transport Canada surveys rural Canadians on their seat belt usage. In 2004, two thirds of NWT residents outside of Yellowknife wore their seat belt. In that year, there were 151 injuries and three deaths from traffic collisions. Two years later, the number of people using their seat belts had risen dramatically, to 84%, while the number of injuries had fallen to 112 and two deaths - a 26% reduction in injuries at the same time that seat belt use increased 27%.
Bottom line - seat belts can only help you if you make sure they're used - every time, every occupant. If you don't wear your seat belt, what's holding you back?
For more information, please visit the Resources section on the Seat Belts main page.
|
|
|
|
|