05/05/2025
Wearing a seatbelt is the most effective way to prevent injury or death in crashes, reducing serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half ¹. Here are some key statistics highlighting the benefits of using seatbelts:
Lives Saved: Seatbelts saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017, and from 1975 to 2017, they're estimated to have saved 374,276 lives
- Fatal Injury Redaction: Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatal injury by 45% for front-seat passenger car occupants and 60% for front-seat light truck occupants
- Injury Reduction: Seatbelts reduce the risk of moderate to critical injuries by 50% for front-seat passenger car occupants and 65% for front-seat light truck occupants ² ³.
- Unrestrained Passenger Deaths: In 2023, 49% of passenger vehicle occupants killed were unrestrained, and 61% of 13- and 14-year-old passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were unrestrained.
- Seatbelt Use: The national seatbelt use rate was 91.2% in 2024, with 91.9% reported in 2023.
Overall, wearing a seatbelt is crucial to staying safe on the roads, and these statistics demonstrate the significant benefits of making seatbelt use a habit.
