Keith Mack
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States, with millions of people injured and killed each year. While seat belt usage has been on the rise since 2000, millions still do not buckle up on every trip. The simple act of buckling up can prevent nearly 50% of all automobile deaths, and data shows that seat belts saved 13,941 lives in 2015 and nearly 15,000 lives in 2017 and 2018. Primary enforcement seat belt laws have been shown to increase usage and reduce deaths compared to secondary enforcement laws or no laws, with observed seat belt use in 2022 at 92% in states with primary enforcement laws, compared to 90% in states with secondary or no laws.
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What You'll Learn
Seat belt use is proven to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that seat belts saved 13,941 lives in 2015, nearly 15,000 lives in 2017, and 15,000 lives in 2018. In 2017, 47% of people who died in a motor vehicle accident were not wearing a seatbelt. The mortality rate for those who choose not to wear a seatbelt is critical, with a rate of 47%. In 2021, more than half of the teens and adults who died in crashes were not wearing a seatbelt.
Seat belt use has been increasing over the years, with 91.9% of people wearing seat belts in 2023, up from 70.7% in 2000. This increase in seat belt usage has coincided with a decrease in unrestrained occupant deaths, which accounted for 49.2% of deaths in 2023, down from 60.2% in 2000.
Research has shown that seat belts reduce the risk of death by up to 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. Lap belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passengers by 45% and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%. Airbags provide added protection, but they are not a substitute for seat belts. The combination of airbags and seat belts provides the greatest protection for adults.
Primary enforcement seat belt laws, which apply to everyone in the vehicle, have been shown to increase seat belt use and reduce deaths compared to secondary enforcement laws. In 2022, seat belt use was higher in states with primary enforcement laws (92%) compared to states with secondary enforcement laws or no seat belt laws (90%).
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Seat belt use is lower in states with secondary or no seat belt laws
Seat belt use has been proven to save lives, with the NHTSA stating that seat belts saved 13,941 lives in 2015 and nearly 15,000 in 2018. In 2017, 47% of people who died in motor vehicle accidents were not wearing a seatbelt. The risk of dying in a car crash is much higher if a seatbelt is not worn, and the risk of serious injury is halved when a seatbelt is worn.
Despite the clear safety benefits of wearing a seatbelt, seat belt use is lower in states with secondary or no seat belt laws. Primary enforcement laws allow police officers to stop and cite motorists solely for not wearing a seat belt. In states with secondary enforcement, police can only enforce the seat belt law if the motorist has been pulled over for another violation.
As of 2025, 35 states and the District of Columbia have primary seat belt laws, while 14 states have secondary laws requiring adult front-seat occupants to wear seat belts. New Hampshire is the only state with no law requiring adults to wear seat belts.
The difference in belt use rates between states with primary and secondary laws has shrunk in recent years. In 2024, front-seat occupant belt use rates were 3% higher in states with primary enforcement laws (92%) compared to states with secondary laws (89%). This gap is much smaller than it was ten years prior (90% vs 79%).
Several studies have found that changing from secondary to primary enforcement resulted in equal or fewer tickets for minorities. Higher fines for seat belt violations are also associated with higher rates of observed belt use. An increase in fines from $25 to $100 was associated with a 6-7% increase in belt use.
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Primary enforcement laws have increased use and reduced deaths
Seat belts have been proven to save lives. The NHTSA determined that seat belts saved 13,941 lives in 2015. The following year, 48% of people who died in car crashes were not wearing seat belts. In 2017, this figure was 47%, amounting to 17,452 people. In 2017, seat belts saved nearly 15,000 lives in the United States.
Seat belt usage has been increasing over the years. In 2000, only 70.7% of front-seat passengers wore seat belts, compared to 89.6% in 2018 and a national use rate of 91% in 2019. The 2023 data show that seat belt use is at 91.9%, and unrestrained occupant deaths currently account for 49.2% of deaths.
Primary enforcement laws allow police to pull over motorists and ticket them if seat belts are not in use. A 2003 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research and Stanford University found that "mandatory seat belt laws unambiguously reduce traffic fatalities." The study also estimated that for each 1% increase in the proportion of people using seat belts, 136 lives are saved annually.
Several studies have found that primary enforcement laws have been effective in increasing seat belt use and reducing crash-related deaths. One study found that states that upgrade their laws are estimated to have 0.22 fewer deaths per 100,000 than states that keep their secondary enforcement laws in place. However, some studies suggest that the impact of primary enforcement laws on reducing MVC death rates may have decreased in recent years due to other factors such as improved road design and vehicle safety.
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Seat belt use is critical for older children and adults
The simple act of buckling up can prevent nearly 50% of all automobile deaths. According to the NHTSA, seat belts saved 13,941 lives in 2015 and nearly 15,000 lives in 2017. In 2018, seat belt usage was at 89.6%, saving roughly 15,000 lives. Data shows that seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. Airbags provide added protection but are not a substitute for seat belts. The combination of airbags and seat belts provides the greatest protection for adults.
It is important to remind older children to wear their seat belts every time they get into a car, no matter whose car it is, and to stay buckled up, including at night and on longer rides. The majority of teens involved in fatal crashes are not wearing their seat belts. Buckling up is not a one-time conversation but an ongoing one. Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in influencing their child's seat belt safety. Research shows that children whose parents buckle up are much more likely to buckle up themselves.
Pregnant women should also wear seat belts to maximize their safety and the safety of their unborn child. Doctors recommend buckling up during all stages of pregnancy to protect both the mother and the fetus in the event of a crash. When shopping for a new vehicle, it is important to try on the seat belts to ensure a good fit for all passengers. In many vehicles, belts can be customized for a better fit.
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Airbags are not a substitute for seat belts
While airbags are designed to protect vehicle occupants in the event of a crash, they are not a substitute for seat belts. Seat belts are the primary restraint system, while airbags are supplementary or secondary.
Seat belts work by securing an occupant into their seat, preventing them from being projected out of it and possibly out of the vehicle during a collision. Airbags, on the other hand, provide additional protection by cushioning the blow upon impact. They are designed to protect the head, neck, and chest in higher-speed crashes.
If a person is not wearing a seat belt during a crash, they may be thrown into the rapidly deploying airbag, resulting in severe injuries or even death. The airbag may also fail to provide any protection if the person's body flies past it. Seat belts allow for a more gradual stop, keeping the occupant restrained and in the correct position for the airbag to provide cushioning.
Research has shown that seat belts significantly reduce the risk of death and serious injury. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts saved an estimated 13,941 lives in 2015 and nearly 15,000 lives in 2018. In 2017, seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand that airbags are not a substitute for seat belts. Both safety features work together to provide the greatest protection for vehicle occupants in the event of a crash.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, according to the NHTSA, seat belts saved 13,941 lives in 2015 and nearly 15,000 lives in 2017. In 2018, seat belts saved around 15,000 lives.
Research shows that seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. An estimated 15,000 lives are saved annually by wearing a seat belt.
The 10-15 and 25-34 age groups experience the highest percentage of unrestrained deaths, at 61%. In contrast, the youngest and oldest age groups have lower percentages, with 28% of deaths among children aged 0-4 and 27% among adults aged 75 and older.
Rear-seat passengers are less likely to wear seat belts than front-seat passengers, increasing the risk of injury to themselves and others in a crash.
Seat belt usage is higher in states with primary enforcement laws (92% in 2022) compared to those with secondary enforcement laws or no laws (90% in 2022). Primary enforcement laws have been proven to increase usage and reduce deaths.
