African American high school students are less likely than white students to wear seat belts all the time, putting them at increased risk of car - and pickup truck-related injuries.
In addition to pain and suffering, motor vehicle Crashes cost the Nation $150 billion each year, including $17 billion in medical costs.
As health professionals, we know that lap and shoulder seat belts are the most effective way for car and pickup truck occupants to reduce their risk of death and serious injury in a crash. They reduce fatalities by a significant 45-60% and serious injury by 50-65%.
In the year 2000, more than 8,000 children under 15 were involved in fatal crashes. Among those children killed, 56% were unrestrained.
Children must be restrained in safety seats appropriate for their age and weight. Unrestrained children are 3 times more likely to be injured than those who are restrained. Two to five year olds who are placed in adult seat belts rather than child safety or booster seats are 3.5 times more likely to be significantly injured in a crash and 4 times more likely to receive a significant head injury.
People involved in motor vehicle crashes are 4 times more likely to die if they are thrown from the vehicle than if they remain inside. They are 14 times more likely to receive cervical spine injuries if thrown from the vehicle than if remaining inside.
Seat belts should always be worn, even if your car or truck has air bags. Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not by themselves. An air bag, by itself, reduces your risk of dying in a crash by only 12%. A seat belt will reduce your risk by 45-60%.
References
1. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2000, Overview.2. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2000, Young Drivers.
3. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2000, Children
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Injury Fact Book 2001-2002.
5. NHTSA, The Economic Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes 1994. Published date,1996.
6. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2000, Occupant Protection.
7. Partners for Child Passenger Safety, Interim Report 2000, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
8. Winston, F.K., Durbin, D.R., Kallan, M.J., and Moll, E.K., Pediatrics, Vol. 105 No. 6, pp. 1179-1183, June 2000.
9. NHTSA, Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program Manual.
