Seat Belts

Growing up I didn’t wear seat belts. They were not something my parents enforced my siblings and I to wear. Do I think they are important and could save my life? Yes. I think seat belts are important and even though they are kind of a pain in the ass, it takes maybe three seconds to buckle it up. Along with seat belts saving your life, they also save you money if you are wearing it when you get pulled over. My question to you; is wearing a seat belt important enough to you?

Statistics show that when using a seat belt correctly, it reduces fatal injuries by forty-five percent and the rick of other injuries by fifty percent. Also seat belts in the back seat reduces injuries by seventy-three percent (Seat Belts Statistics, n.d.). Seeing these statistics might not mean much, but there are a lot of factors not considered. For instance, the vehicles involved in the accidents, passengers, location, and many more. Sometimes wearing a seat belt and not wearing a seat belt wont make a difference.  The statistics are only about half, but you have to consider other factors. In 2014, seat belts saved 12,802 (Seat Belts: Get the Facts, 2016). That is incredible!! Passing the law on wearing seat belts made a huge difference on the amount of people who wear them. It is easier just to wear a seat belt instead of getting a ticket or getting injured or even killed.  

I think teens are more at a risk for not wearing their seat belts than adults. I think teens are influenced by peer pressure. Seat belts are a pain and not “cool” so they don’t wear them. Fifty-two percent of total motor deaths happen because of young adults who don’t wear their seat belts (Statistics, 2016). I think, for us, this is super important. I don’t wear my seat belt all the time, but I don’t want to die. My goal for myself is to wear my seat belt more often because I have other goals I want to accomplish in my life time. I don’t want my life to end because I was in too much of a hurry to put my seat belt on.

In conclusion, I encourage everyone to wear their seat belt. If not for yourself than for your family. It is so easy just to click it and be safe.