COLUMBUS — One of the safest and easiest choices drivers and passengers can make to practice safety inside a vehicle is to buckle up. AAA supports efforts by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and bill sponsor State Representative Jon Cross (R-Findlay) to enact a primary enforcement bill on safety belts for front seat, said a AAA press release.
If enacted, Ohio would join 35 states across the US to have a primary seat belt law. And all but one (PA) of the Ohio’s neighboring states have primary (vs. secondary) seat belt laws.
Each year about 33,000 people are killed in motor vehicle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of death in a crash. Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seat belt – the national use rate was 91.9% in 2023, according to NHTSA. But Ohio is among the 10 states with the lowest seat belt use at 80.8% in 2022.
“With summer vacations coming up, buckling up – every trip, every seat and every time can be a lifesaver,” Kara Hitchens, Public Affairs Manager, AAA Club Alliance, said in the release.
In 2023, of the 252,000 crashes reported to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 49,768 were unbelted. That is almost 20% of the total crashes where the occupants were not protected. And sadly, 570 fatalities were recorded.
Seat belts need to be used even if your car has an air bag. It is not an either/or situation. Safety protections in today’s vehicles include seat belts, air bags and crumple zones. The crumple zone is a structural safety feature used in automobiles to absorb the energy from the impact during a collision to help protect the occupants. To ensure the greatest protection AAA encourages all drivers and passengers to use all the safety devices in the vehicle because they could mean the difference between living or dying in a motor vehicle crash.
Most air bags today are designed to provide added protection in frontal crashes because those in a car are far more likely to die in a frontal crash than in any other type of crash. And anything not secured by a seat belt – person, package or pet becomes a projectile.
Top 5 important messages about seat belts.
1. Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash
Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle; being ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly.
2. Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them
If you don’t wear your seat belt, you could be thrown into a rapidly opening frontal air bag. Such force could injure or even kill you.
3. Guidelines to buckle up safely
The lap belt and shoulder belt are secured across the pelvis and rib cage, which are better able to withstand crash forces than other parts of your body. Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck. The lap belt rests across your hips, not your stomach. never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm.
4. Fit matters
Before you buy a new car, check to see that its seat belts are a good fit for you.
Ask your dealer about seat belt adjusters, which can help you get the best fit.
If you need a roomier belt, contact your vehicle manufacturer to obtain seat belt extenders.
If you drive an older or classic car with lap belts only, check with your vehicle manufacturer about how to retrofit your car with today’s safer lap/shoulder belts.
5. Seat belt safety for children and pregnant women
Find out when your child is ready to use an adult seat belt and learn about seat belt safety when you’re pregnant.
AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to more than 64 million members nationwide and nearly 2.5 million members in Ohio. AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. AAA is a non-stock, membership corporation working on behalf of motorists, who can map a route, find local gas prices and electric vehicle charging stations, discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app, www.AAA.com/mobile for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information on joining or renewing a Membership, visit www.AAA.com.
