Keeping Your Passengers Safe on the Road
Wearing seat belts has become second nature for many, thanks in part to stricter seat belt laws and safety features in newer automobiles that sound until the driver and passenger seat belts are buckled. But according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), only 74% of passengers in rear seats buckle up, compared to 83% of front seat passengers.1
Seat belts help reduce deaths and serious injuries on the road. Rear-seat passengers are three times more likely to die in a car accident if they are unbuckled.2 As the driver, you can play an important role in the safety of your passengers by reminding them to always buckle their seat belts, no matter where they sit.
Seat Belts Important in Other Vehicles, Too
You may always make it a habit to buckle your seat belt in your own car, but what about when you are traveling in another vehicle, such as a taxi, limousine, bus or large passenger van? Passengers might think it is unnecessary to buckle up when going for a short ride on a city street, but in a frontal collision at 30 miles per hour, an unbelted person moves forward and hits the windshield (or driver partition in a limo or taxi) at 30 miles per hour―the same velocity and force a person falling from the top of a three-story building would experience when hitting the ground.3
Passenger Safety for Children
If you travel with small children, know the latest guidelines for riding in car seats and booster seats. The NHTSA website posts guidelines for infant seats, convertible seats and booster seats, including a guide to car seat types by the child’s age. Read More
