Passengers in Cars Need to Ride Safely
Backseat passengers, remember, it is always important to buckle-up.
Unbelted rear seat passengers in a car pose a great risk to themselves, and those in the front seat, according to a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Watching the crash test videos from such a study can be an eye-opening experience. An unrestrained backseat passenger is thrown forward, slamming into a front passenger before crashing right into the windshield at 35 miles per hour. The statistics are clear that failing to buckle up as a backseat passenger has dire consequences. In 2013, 55% of backseat passengers killed in a car accident were not wearing seatbelts. The Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that failing to wear a seatbelt makes you 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle in the event of a crash. Despite these numbers, DOT data reveals that 22 percent of backseat riders do not not wear a seatbelt.
Why the persistent problem with backseat passengers failing to buckle up? Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) states that education campaigns and stronger rear-seat laws are the solutions. IIHS research supports this. In an IIHS survey, 4 of every 10 people surveyed reported that they sometimes did not wear a seat belt as a rear passenger because of the absence of a law requiring it. Unfortunately, only 28 states have laws in place mandating rear passengers to buckle up. New Hampshire does not even require adults to wear seatbelts when riding in the front seat.
New laws to help curb this problem are on the move. Brad Hoylman, a senator from New York, is a major proponent of legislation that would require wearing a seatbelt when in the back of a New York City cab. Senator Hoylman believes that back seat passengers are operating under a false sense of security. They think they are safe in the backseat regardless of seat belt use. This is probably why the IIHS study revealed that people are least likely to wear a seat belt when riding short distances in a cab or ride sharing service such as Uber or Lyft. In fact, the study shows that four out of 5 adults reported not using a seatbelt for short trips or when using a ridesharing service.
Always buckle up. Whether you are driving or are a passenger in the front or rear of the vehicle, always wear your seatbelt. It will help keep you and everyone else in the car safe. Motor vehicle accidents happen all too often and can result in serious injuries to everyone involved. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact the Lovett Law Firm0. Attorney Rob Lovett is here to protect your legal rights to compensation if you have been injured due to the negligence of someone else.