As a result of a million-dollar ad campaign and heightened awareness from citizens in general, the seat belt dilemma of past years has died down considerably. However, it’s far from gone. Each year, too many drivers are killed in accidents that could very easily been non-fatal. Specifically, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that of total drivers killed in accidents in 2016, over half were unrestrained at the time of the collision.
Compare that to data from the Naval Safety Center: 1% of people who were wearing a seat belt were ejected from the car during a crash. Clearly, seat belts make a huge difference when it comes to in car safety – so why don’t more people wear them?
Identifying the Problem
While it seems like second nature to me to buckle up before I drive, there are fair deals of people who don’t share the same opinion. The state of Ohio requires by law that all drivers and front seat passengers must wear their seat belts in a moving vehicle. However, not everyone abides by this law and it can be a significant error resulting in the loss of life.
Here are a few of the primary reasons why people refuse to fasten their seat belts:
- “I’m a good driver, I won’t crash.”
- “It’s a short ride. I don’t need it.”
- “I don’t want to wear one, its uncomfortable!”
Undoing these perceptions is the first step to ensuring that our best safety precaution in crashes serves its role effectively. As much as everyone would like to believe so, no one is invincible. In the event of a crash, it is vital for all of the car’s safety mechanisms to be in full effect. Buckling your seat belt is the first, and most significant, step.
The importance of your seat belt cannot be overstated. Even if its uncomfortable or you’re just going for a shirt drive, don’t compromise your own safety.
Searching for a Solution
Here are a few reasons to keep you seat belts strapped:
- What’s to lose? It takes, at worst, a few seconds and very little energy to buckle your seat belt. There is no logical reason to not just go ahead and do it – there’s absolutely no trade off.
- Why would you risk everything? Seat belts save lives. In the event of a crash, why would you not want to minimize the likelihood of serious injury or death? The benefits of seat belts clearly outweigh their trivial ‘harms.’
- What if the police catch you? If you’re not wearing a seat belt and get pulled over for offense, then expect a ticket. While not wearing a seatbelt isn’t a primary offense, it is a secondary offense for everyone sitting in the front section of the car. Even if you don’t get into a collision, don’t try and push the law.
There is simply no reason to not wear a seat belt. Buckle up and enjoy the ride! If you or a loved one was injured or killed in an automobile accident due to another driver’s negligence, contact my office immediately.
As your Ohio car accident attorney, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities. You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 877.944.4373.
