NHTSA'S Most Wanted: 45 million Americans still not buckling up

Since the first Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign in 1993, seat belt use nationwide has increased to 84 percent from less than 60 percent. Despite the Nation reaching record high seat belt use, about 45 million Americans still risk their lives by failing to regularly buckle up when driving or riding in motor vehicles.

In 2008, nearly 14,000 passenger vehicle occupants who did not wear seat belts were killed. On average about 38 people each day who do not wear their seat belts are killed in motor vehicle crashes. About half these people would be alive today if they had worn their seat belts.

Who are the Americans not wearing their seat belts?

Teens -- In 2008, 70 percent of the passenger vehicle occupants 13 to 15 years old killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up -- the highest percentage of all age groups.

Young Adults -- When comparing occupants 21 and older in fatal motor vehicle crashes, the age groups least likely to wear their seat belts are 21- to 24-year-olds and 25- to 34-year-olds. Among passenger vehicle occupants 21 to 34 who were killed in crashes from 2004-2008, 65 percent were not buckled up.

Men -- Men are less likely than women to buckle up. This is especially true of young men. In 2008, 60 percent of male passenger vehicle occupant fatalities were unrestrained, compared to 45 percent for females.

Pickup drivers and passengers -- Pickup truck drivers and passengers continue to have lower seat belt usage rates than occupants of other passenger vehicles. In 2008, 68 percent of pickup truck occupants who were killed in traffic crashes were NOT buckled up.

Approximately 62 percent of sport utility vehicle occupants who died were not wearing their seat belts.

Nighttime drivers -- According to NHTSA, of the 12,671 passenger vehicle occupants who died in motor vehicle crashes between the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. in 2008, nearly two-thirds (64%) were NOT wearing seat belts -- compared to less than half (45%) of the passenger vehicle occupants killed during the daytime hours of 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.

Rural areas -- In 2008, 56 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants in rural areas were unrestrained, while 52 percent of those killed in urban areas were unrestrained.

So, buckle up!  We don't want to lose you!

These statistics are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) and Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/communications/pdf/mostwanted.pdf