SAFETY STATISTICS

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

	Seat belts save lives. In 1999, motor vehicle occupant restraints saved the lives of an estimated 11,197 people over age four. If all passenger vehicle occupants over age 4 used proper restraints, an additional 9,553 lives could have been saved in 1999.
	In 1999, nearly 19,000 unrestrained drivers and passengers died in traffic crashes—more than 3,000 of them were children.
	In 1999, more than 60 percent of the children killed in traffic crashes were completely unrestrained.
	Seat belts reduce the risk of death for front seat occupants in passenger cars by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent.
	Strong enforcement of adult seat belt laws saves not only adults, but children. The American Academy of Pediatrics found that a restrained driver was three times more likely to restrain a child. NHTSA observational research shows that when a driver buckles up, children are buckled up 87 percent of the time. However, when a driver is unbuckled, children are restrained only 24 percent of the time.
	Officers do not want to give out tickets but they do want to save lives. You can avoid a ticket by buckling up on every trip, every time you get in the car, no matter how close your destination is.
	Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanics through age 24, and the second leading cause of death for Hispanics aged 25-44.
	Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for African American children through the age of 14. Crashes are the second leading cause of death for African Americans aged 15-24.