South Carolina’s safety belt law requires that every driver and every occupant of a motor vehicle, when it is being operated on the public streets and highways of this State, must wear a fastened safety belt that complies with all provisions of federal law for its use.
Not only is buckling up one of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make, but it has also been proven to save lives here in South Carolina, and across the nation. Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seatbelt, as the national use rate was at 91.6% last year. Over the same period, seatbelt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives across the U.S.
Unfortunately, not all our fellow South Carolinians are getting the message. The South Carolina Collision Statistics reported one unrestrained motor vehicle occupant was killed every 23.2 hours on our roadways last year.
The Statistics are Clear: Seatbelts Save Lives
Our David W. Martin Accident & Injury Lawyers know that seatbelts may not be the most comfortable safety precaution motorists can take, but they are specifically designed to help save lives in the event of a crash.
Unfortunately, last year in South Carolina 717 people who had access to seatbelts were killed while not wearing one, with 491 occupants being ejected from their vehicles during the crashes.
While this paints a grim picture, the consequences of not wearing, or improperly wearing, a seatbelt are clear. Airbags are not enough to protect you; in fact, the force of an airbag can seriously injure or even kill you if you are not buckled up.
Buckling up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle. Not buckling up can result in being ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always deadly.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce your risk of:
- Fatal injury by 45%
- Moderate to critical injury by 50%
If you buckle up in a light truck, you can reduce your risk of:
- Fatal injury by 60%
- Moderate to critical injury by 65%
Wearing a seatbelt is a simple and safe precaution all motor vehicle occupants can make to help ensure they get home safely.
While we hope you never need us, if you or someone you love has been injured in a traffic collision caused by negligence in South Carolina, contact our skilled car accident attorneys today by calling 803-258-6199 or request a consultation online to discuss your case.