Wearing a seat belt while driving is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself in a car accident. Seat belts should be worn at all times, regardless of whether or not passengers are present. In addition to preventing ejection from your vehicle during an accident, which is one of the leading causes of severe injury and death in car accidents, wearing a seat belt also reduces the risk of being thrown from your vehicle altogether.    

         Additionally, studies have shown that using a seat belt can reduce injuries associated with traffic accidents by 50%. This fact alone should encourage you to wear your buckle up every time you get inside a motorized conveyance.    

            Traffic crashes due to distracted driving have been on the rise in the past few years. They currently account for more than 30% of crashes in which someone is injured or killed, and that number continues to grow. In 2015 alone, there were 3,477 fatalities and 431,000 injuries related to distracted driving throughout the United States. A large percentage of these types of accidents involved cell phone usage behind the wheel. 

Additionally:

1) Seat belts reduce injury-causing ejection by 75%.

2) Seat belts dramatically reduce the risk of death in a head-on collision by 45%.

3) Seat belt use reduces serious injury to front-seat occupants by 50%.

4) During an accident, you are eight times more likely to be thrown from your car if you aren’t wearing your seat belt.

5) Seat belts can reduce the risk of fatal injury to front outboard vehicle passengers by 45%.

6) In a crash, an unbelted person is thrown forward with a force equal to three times his or her own body weight. This impact may cause severe head and brain injuries, as well as serious burns in the event of a fire caused by a ruptured fuel line.

         By making sure you always buckle up before starting your car and every time you drive somewhere, you will benefit in many different ways. You will be able to protect yourself in a variety of dangerous situations on the road, while also ensuring that all of the people riding with you are kept safe. Remember that accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Wearing your safety belt is the best thing you can do to protect yourself in case something goes wrong. 

So make sure to buckle up, and encourage all of your passengers to follow your lead!