Vehicle Seatbelts

Dana Maliepaard was a young girl who went to Glasgow High School and was involved in an unrestrained car accident. Dana’s mother, Christie Maliepaard, believes that it is necessary to share Dana’s story with others so that they may learn from it. Dana’s story is used to show teen drivers that it is not only expected, but necessary to wear a seat belt. By wearing a seat belt when driving a car or riding in one, you are able to not only save your own life, but the ones of the people who care about you.

There are many people who do not understand the importance of seat belts for safety. They do not wear their seat belts even though they know the mortality statistics. Most of them think that seat belts do not help when an accident occurs. We have all made the excuse that the seat belt is uncomfortable. Driving is a dangerous duty that should always be practiced with more caution and care. Some people think that not wearing a seatbelt is rebellious. Other people think that they will never get into accident. Some of the consequences of not wearing a seat belt is that you could die, you can get injured and many more. So far, the only way to avoid these consequences from happening is to wear a seatbelt.

“The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16 to 19 year olds than among any other age group.” (Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet 1) “The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. The risk increases with the number of teen passengers.” (Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet 1) In the United States motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause death in teens. “In 2010, seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.” (Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet 2) This alarming number of casualties could be prevented by educating our teenage drivers prior to them being on their own and operating a couple ton weighing

A seat belt is a restraining device installed in a vehicle to prevent or minimize the force of an injury during a crash (“Seat Belts” 5). Although it is also known as a safety belt, the “safety” part is the key issue that is causing much controversy around drivers, manufacturers, and researchers alike. The main idea around the debate is the fact that although research indicates that when seat belts are used properly they save lives, opponents argue that mandating their use can actually cause more harm than good in some cases and is an infringement on personal rights. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for people

There are many causes of crashes and fatalities on the road. One cause of death on

Shari Roan in “Should the driving age be raised” talks about the controversial issue all American families face when it comes to teens driving and the safety of others. She states that in a nationwide analysis the number of fatal crashes between the ages 16 and 17 year old drivers have fallen and the number of fatal crashes between the ages of 18 and 19 year old drivers have risen by almost the same amount. She states that the combination of immaturity and inexperience makes teen drivers particularly vulnerable to motor vehicle accidents. She also explains that car crashes are the leading cause of death among teens resulting in 4,054 fatalities in 2008 according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Arlington Va.

According to NHTSA, 13,941 lives were saved by seat belts in 2015 while an additional 2,814 could have been saved if properly restrained (2017). One impact of seat belt usage is reducing the risk serious or fatal injuries by about half. The CDC reported in 2009, 53% of occupants killed in crashes in the U.S. were not wearing seat belts (2014). According to data collected in 2008 by NHTSA, seat belts have saved an estimated 225,000 lives (2009). The benefit of wearing a seat belt can help increase chances of surviving a crash with little or no

A car is considered a lethal weapon by many people. Why would you sit in a moving car Argumentative essay and not wear your seat belt? Cars travel at high rates of speed and can easily crash. Technology is distracting many drivers in today's world. Why take the chance and not wear your seat belt?

Motor vehicle crashes are among the top 10 causes of death for U.S. residents of all ages and the leading cause of death for persons aged 5--34 years. In terms of years of potential life lost before age 65, motor vehicle crashes ranked third in 2007, behind only cancer and heart disease, and account for an estimated $99 billion in medical and lost work costs annually. Crash-related deaths and injuries largely are preventable. From 2000 to 2009, while the number of vehicle miles traveled on the nation's roads increased by 8.5%, the death

In the beginning of the creation of seat belts , less than ten percent of vehicle owners actually used their seat belt (‘The Evolution Of Seat Belt Laws…”). After the multitude of fatalities grew , people began to recognize the importance of vehicle safety later leading to laws created in favor of seat belts. Seat belt use and safety increased an estimated fifty percent as states began to create laws and strict penalties (“GHSA”). In 1984 New York became the first state to enact a seat belt use law. By 1996 every state had followed New York with the exception of New Hampshire.(“Safety Belts”)

Every day, thousands of individuals fall victim to motor vehicle accidents and obtain serious injuries. But in regards to innovations such as seat belts and airbags, this number has decreased. Safety innovations have changed throughout history. In the 1930’s, individuals were required to wear safety glasses in their vehicles, in the late 1950’s, occupants were allowed to choose whether they wanted headrests on the front seats, which we know understand to be a crucial part of a car as it prevents whiplash. More recently there have been new innovations such as tire pressure monitors and traction control which further contributes to reducing the number of roadside accidents. However, it is clear that there is still a large area for improvement.

A recent multi-vehicle accident in Rutherford County is a reminder of the importance of using seatbelts. A 27-year-old woman was driving eastbound on State Route 840 West when her vehicle ran off the road. She overcorrected and crossed into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with another vehicle. The 27-year-old was ejected from the vehicle and hit by a third vehicle. Both the 27-year-old woman and the driver of the second vehicle died from injuries sustained in the crash. Neither was wearing a seat belt, which, according to Tennessee Highway Patrol, would have made a difference in the crash.

The facts are astounding and horrific. According to the Association for Safe and International Travel, nearly 1.3 million individuals are killed in road related crashes each year. This accounts for 3,287 deaths each day. Among the statistics, is the fact, that car related accidents are the leading cause of death among young adults ages 15 through 29. It is also the second leading cause of death worldwide among young people ages 5 through 14. Unless action is taken, car related deaths are expected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030.

In a year, it is stated that 2,715 adolescents in the United States alone were killed in motor vehicle crashes (IIHS). Many more than that were left with substantial injuries from accidents. If so many young kids are dying or being critically injured from accidents why aren’t more drastic measures being taken? There are numerous things that have been done to make driving safer for kids, such as implementing driving school and receiving temporary permits to drive to gain experience. From implementing these things, the fatality rate has dropped from over 5,000 to over 2,000 in a decade (IIHS). Though this is still not lowering the fatality rate enough, in the last year the data was available it is still said that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in teenage males (IIHS). The age to obtain a driver’s license should be raised from 16 to 18 to gain more experience and save young lives.

Car crashes are an obvious problem, Many people fear getting into one. The slightest distraction while driving could be the end of your life. Of course there are also airbags, which are good for the driver and passenger. But what about the kids in the backseat. What if the airbag doesn’t work in time? There also seems to be more accidents in traffic than there are usually. Is it because everyone is trying to get in front of one another and not think about what could happen? Is it because nobody wants to be stuck in one spot for hours on end? Luckily I have some solutions.