According to reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), around 37% of Maryland’s car accident deaths are the result of people not wearing their seatbelts.
The statistics paint a sobering picture of the perils of neglecting safety restraints while in a moving vehicle. Nationally, around half of car accident deaths are due to failure to wear a seatbelt, coming in at nearly 47% of all traffic deaths.
Breaking down seatbelt statistics
Compared to the national average number of adults who don’t wear seatbelts, 6.3%, Maryland ranks fairly high with 4.1% of adults reportedly failing to use restraints. The CDC breaks down the statistics even further, analyzing rates of seatbelt usage among male and female drivers. The results show men neglect wearing a seatbelt at nearly double the rate of women, at 8.5% compared to 4.2% of women. As a result, men are also two times more likely to die in crashes than women.
Another revelation from the research is that states with larger rural populations have higher rates of seatbelt neglect. While Maryland comes in as the eighth lowest number of people not wearing seatbelts, that factor still accounts for a high percentage of traffic deaths compared to national averages.
Practice safer driving by buckling up
The benefits of wearing a seatbelt are tremendous. In a passenger car collision, you’re 45% less likely to die, and 50% less likely to suffer critical injuries. The risk reduction increases even more for light truck drivers. The restraints help prevent you from being ejected from your vehicle, and also keeps the air bag from injuring or killing you. It’s an easy way to prevent life-altering consequences if you’re involved in an accident.
Between 2012 and 2016, Anne Arundel County ranked as the fifth highest in statewide total accidents, at 9.2% of the total collisions recorded. The county only clocked 8% of the state’s accident deaths, however.
USA Today reported on these statistics, highlighting the unfortunate fact that car crash fatalities are on the rise. Crunching the numbers reveals that seatbelts make a huge difference in fatalities.
Any time you get into a moving vehicle, a seatbelt is an absolute must. Not only does it decrease the likelihood that you’ll die in an accident, but it also sets an example for others to follow.
Additionally, when you bring a personal injury case before a judge, you’re far more likely to receive adequate compensation if you were wearing your seatbelt. It’s the law, but it’s also a major benefit for you.
