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    Seat Belts

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      Overview
                      One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up. Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seat belt – the national use rate was at 91.9% in 2023. Seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017. Understand the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seat belt and learn what you can do to make sure you and your family are properly buckled up every time.

          
                    
          
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                                Seat Belts Save Lives

                                                  91.9%
      Seat Belt Use Rate in 2023
      Source
                                  14,955
      Lives Saved by Seat Belts in 2017
      Source
                                  2,549
      Additional lives that seat belts could have saved in 2017 if everyone had buckled up
      Source

        Seat Belts
                                                                                                              The Issue
                                                                                NHTSA In Action
                                                                                Resources

      Consequences
                                      Adults
                                      Tweens
                                      Back Seat

        Seat Belts
      The Issue
                      
                                              Consequences
                                                          Adults
                                                          Tweens
                                                          Back Seat
                                                                              NHTSA In Action
                                                                              Resources

                    The Issue
                  

                  Consequences
          
          
    
  
       
  
50%
		Percentage of Passenger Vehicle Occupants Killed in 2021 Who Were Unrestrained
		 
  In 2021, 26,325 passenger vehicle occupants were killed. About 50% of those killed were not buckled (based on known seat belt use.)Seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts, in 2017 alone.The consequences of not wearing, or improperly wearing, a seat belt are clear:

 
  
Traffic Safety Facts
		Seat Belt Use
   
  1. Buckling up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle, whereas not buckling up can result in being totally ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always deadly.2. Air bags are not enough to protect you; in fact, the force of an air bag can seriously injure or even kill you if you’re not buckled up.3. Improperly wearing a seat belt, such as putting the strap below your arm, puts you and your children at risk in a crash.The benefits of buckling up are equally clear:If you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce your risk of:Fatal injury by 45% (Kahane, 2015)Moderate to critical injury by 50%If you buckle up in a light truck, you can reduce your risk of:Fatal injury by 60% (Kahane, 2015)Moderate to critical injury by 65% (NHTSA, 1984)The Issue
                  

                  Seat Belt Safety for Adults
          
          
    
  
       
  Follow these seat belt tips and guidelines, including do’s and don’ts when you’re pregnant. Then have some fun quizzing yourself about the myths and facts of buckling up, and test your seat belt IQ.**The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Buckling Up**

 
  
57%
		OF THOSE KILLED DURING THE NIGHTTIME IN 2021 WERE UNRESTRAINED
		 
  **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 completely 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. Learn about air bag safety.
**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.
*(PDF of the top 5)*
If You’re Pregnant: Seat Belt Recommendations for Drivers and Passengers
If you’re pregnant, make sure you know how to position your seat and wear a seat belt to maximize your safety and the safety of your unborn child. Read our recommendations below or view the instructional diagram version of our seat belt recommendations for pregnant drivers and passengers (PDF 497 KB).
**I’m Pregnant. Should I Wear a Seat Belt?**
**YES**—doctors recommend it. Buckling up through all stages of your pregnancy is the single most effective action you can take to protect yourself and your unborn child in a crash.
**NEVER** drive or ride in a car without buckling up first!**What’s the Right Way to Wear My Seat Belt?**
The shoulder belt away from your neck (but not off your shoulder) and across your chest (between your breasts), making sure to remove any slack from your seat belt with the lap belt secured below your belly so that it fits snugly across your hips and pelvic bone.
**NEVER** place the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.
**NEVER** place lap belt over or on top of your belly.**Should I Adjust My Seat?**
**YES**—Adjust to a comfortable, upright position
Keep as much distance as possible between your belly and the steering wheel
Comfortably reach the steering wheel and pedals
To minimize the gap between your shoulder and the seat belt, avoid reclining your seat more than necessary.
Avoid letting your belly touch the steering wheel.**What if My Car or Truck Has Air Bags?**
You still need to wear your seat belt properly.
Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them.
Without a seat belt, you could crash into the vehicle interior, other passengers, or be ejected from the vehicle.**My Car Has an ON-OFF Air Bag Disabling Switch. Should I turn it off?**
**NO**—Doctors recommend that pregnant women wear seat belts and leave air bags turned on. Seat belts and air bags work together to provide the best protection for you and your unborn child.**What Should I Do if I am Involved in a Crash?**
Seek immediate medical attention, even if you think you are not injured, regardless of whether you’re the driver or passenger.

 
    
  Myth vs. The Real Deal
            There are many myths surrounding seat belt safety. See if you can distinguish the myths from the real deal by correctly answering the questions below.
        If your car has air bags you still need to wear a seat belt. Myth or Real Deal?
              **The Real Deal.**The safest way to ride is buckled up in a vehicle equipped with air bags. Even without an air bag, you are safer buckled up than you are with an air bag and not buckled up.
                      
            Seat belts can trap you in a fire or under water. Myth or Real Deal?
              **Myth.**Incidents involving fire or water account for 1⁄2 of 1% of all crashes. But more importantly, you can't escape such dangers unless you're conscious. Wearing a seat belt gives you a much greater chance of being conscious and able-bodied.
                      
            If you're not going far or not traveling fast, seat belts are unnecessary. Myth or Real Deal?
              **Myth.**Seemingly routine trips can be deceptively dangerous. Most fatal crashes happen within 25 miles from home and at speeds of less than 40 mph.
                      
            Your seat belt can hurt you in a crash. Myth or Real Deal?
              **Real Deal.** In a crash, everything in your car can cause bodily harm, but your seat belt is one of the few things that can actually save you.
                      
            You’re safer in a pickup truck, so wearing a seat belt is unnecessary. Myth or Real Deal?
              **Myth.** For occupants in SUVs, pickups, and vans, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to the driver and front seat passenger by 60%.
                      
            It's not as essential for guys to wear seat belts; they are the least at risk. Myth or Real Deal?
              **Myth.** Young men are most at risk. Among male passenger vehicle occupants ages 18-34 who were killed in 2017 fatal crashes, 60% were not buckled.

 
    
  What’s Your Seat Belt IQ?
            Any time you’re in a motor vehicle, no matter where you’re sitting or where you’re going, you should always play it safe. Remember to buckle up every trip, every time! Use this quiz to test your seat belt IQ.
        True or False: Every State has at least some kind of seat belt law.
              False, 49 of 50 states have a seat belt law.
                      
            Far too many Americans die in crashes every year. Do you know how many unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants died in 2021?
              11,813
                      
            If you wear a seat belt correctly while riding in the front seat of a car, your chances of a fatal injury are reduced by ___ percent.
              45
                      
            Is it best to use your seat belt on long trips or short trips?
              Both
                      
            What is the best defense against drunk drivers on the road?
              A seat belt
                      
            Most crashes happen within ___ miles of home.
              25
                      
            Child restraint use drops by 40% when?
              When parents ride without their seat belts.
                      
            Seat belts saved approximately how many lives in 2017?
              14,955
                      
            In 2021, what percentage of passenger vehicle occupants 14 years and younger were not using restraints when killed in traffic crashes?
              40%
                      
            True or False: Wearing your seat belt is your best insurance to prevent injury and death in the tragic case of a motor vehicle crash.
              TrueThe Issue
                  

                  Seat Belt Safety for Tweens
          
          
    
  
       
  When Is My Child Ready for an Adult Seat Belt?

 
  
Related Topic
		Car Seats and Booster Seats
   
  The time to transition your child out of a booster seat and into a seat belt usually comes when the child is between 8 and 12 years old. Keep your children in booster seats until they outgrow the size limits of the booster seats or are big enough to fit properly in seat belts.

 
  

      See how your child should be using her seat belt
              
          Watch the video
    

 
  **Fitting a Child Correctly in a Seat Belt**For your child to properly fit in a seat belt, he or she must be tall enough to sit without slouching and be able to:Keep his or her back against the vehicle seat;Keep his or her knees naturally bent over the edge of the vehicle seat; andKeep his or her feet flat on the floor.**Additionally:**The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest, and not cross the neck or face.Never let a child put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind the back because it could cause severe injuries in a crash.Keep your child in the back seat because it is safer there.Remember, always check your child’s belt fit in every vehicle. A booster seat may be needed in some vehicles and not in others. If the seat belt does not fit properly yet, your child should continue to use a booster seat.**Modeling Seat Belt Safety**As a parent, you are your kids’ strongest influence when it comes to modeling safe driving practices, including buckling up every time you get in the car. Teach your family that safety is the responsibility of all passengers as well as the driver.

 
  Tweens (8-14)As your child grows, you may face challenges enforcing seat belt safety. Life as a parent is full of compromises, but seat belt safety is never up for negotiation. Follow these pointers and set the example of buckling up every time you get into the car.  And remember: Never give up until they buckle up!NOTE: All children under 13 ride in the back seat for maximum safety.

 
  You’re the #1 Influence: Make Sure Your Tween is Properly Buckled Up the Whole Ride, Every Time**Seat Belt Safety Starts With Good Role Models**Learning the importance of wearing a seat belt starts with a good role model—and that’s you. As a parent or caregiver, you are the number one influence on your child’s seat belt safety. Research shows that children whose parents buckle up are much more likely to buckle up themselves.**Consistency is Key**Consistently remind your children to buckle up properly the whole ride, and never assume they’re buckled up! Learn tips to motivate your tweens to buckle up, and make it a rule in your family that everyone follows the same practices as you: Always buckle up before moving the car, no matter how short or routine the drive, and make sure all children are buckled up properly.**The Proper Seat Belt Fit for Your Child**The risk of injury among child passengers is significantly higher when their seat belts are loose and/or improperly positioned. Learn about the proper seat belt fit for your child and why your children may not be wearing their seat belts correctly.**Front or Back—When is the Front Seat Safe for My Child?**All children under age 13 should ride in the back seat for maximum safety. The back seat is the safest place for your children because most crashes occur in the front of the car and the back seat is farthest from this impact.**Why Parents and Caregivers Forget About or Forego Seat Belt Safety**We know life as a parent is full of distractions and often hectic, making it easy to forget or forego buckling up altogether. See if any of these excuses for not buckling up sound familiar, then do whatever it takes to buckle up and make sure your kids do the same:Rushed and chaotic pre-travel routinesDistractionsNeed to minimize conflict or keep the peaceSeat belt discomfort or perceived nuisance when in a hurryShorter distances, slower speeds and familiar roads falsely associated with lower riskKids persistently asking to ride in the front seat

 
  Tips to Motivate Your Tweens to Buckle UpGetting your kids to properly buckle up and stay buckled can be a battle of wills. There are several reasons why children 8 to 14 may forget or not want to wear their seat belts. For as many reasons as your kids can protest against wearing a seat belt, we’ve got tips to help you motivate them to buckle up.Tweens are going through several developmental stages—social, cognitive and emotional—which offer helpful insights into what makes sense to them and what motivates them. Learn about the developmental stages and motivational messages get your kids to buckle up properly, the whole ride, every time.

 
  It’s Non-Negotiable: Tween Seat Belt SafetyWe know you make every effort to keep your kids safe. However, parenting can be a hectic job. The daily routine of getting your kids to and from school and other activities can be hurried and chaotic, creating an environment where insisting on wearing a seat belt is not top of mind. See if you face these five challenges to getting tweens to wear — and stay in — their seat belts.

 
  **No Matter How Hurried or Chaotic, Don’t Negotiate!**As a parent, sometimes you let your kids have their way. But their safety should never be up for negotiation, no matter how much they push back on the seat belts being uncomfortable or unnecessary for just a “short drive.” Here are some tips to help you win the seat belt battle:**Consistently Model Seat Belt Safety.** Teaching your children to consistently wear seat belts can take a great deal of resolve. Your first line of defense, as your children’s number one influence, is to wear your seat belt and insist that all family members do the same.**Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up.** Make sure your kids are buckled up with their lap and shoulder belt—no shoulder belts behind their backs or under their arms, or seat belts so loose that they can wrestle in the back seat. Learn how to motivate your kids to buckle up properly and consistently using age-appropriate messages and rewards to reinforce the importance of seat belt safety.**Never Assume Your Kids Are Buckled Up.** One conversation is not enough: Remind your children to wear their seat belts every time they get into a car—no matter whose car it is—and stay buckled up, including at night and on longer rides.Teenagers

 
  
54%
		of 13 and 14-year-old passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2021 were known to be unrestrained
		 
  It’s been a long time since your little ones transitioned from a booster seat into an adult seat belt, and now they’re teenagers. Think it’s time to relax? Think again. The majority of teens involved in fatal crashes aren’t wearing their seat belts.Buckling up is not a one-time conversation—it’s ongoing. Set the example by always wearing your seat belt, and remind your teens buckling up is the law.To learn more, visit our Teen Driving section.The Issue
                  

                  Back Seat
          
          
    
  
       
  It’s important to buckle up every trip, every time, no matter where you’re sitting in a vehicle, including the back seat.
In 2021, nearly 60% of back seat passengers who were killed in a crash were unbuckled (based on known seat belt use).
To stay safe in a vehicle, keep the following in mind whenever you or others ride in the back seat:
Being buckled up keeps you safe and secure inside a vehicle. Being ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly.
Buckle your seat belt in all forms of road transportation, including for-hire rides such as taxis, limousines, and rideshares.Tips to position your seat belt correctly:
Secure the lap belt across your hips below your stomach. The shoulder belt should be across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.
Adjust the seat belt height on the side of the vehicle to prevent the shoulder belt from resting on your neck.Buckle children in the right seat based on their age and size. All children under age 13 should ride in the back seat.
Wearing a seat belt keeps you safe inside a vehicle and has been proven to save lives. Even in the back seat, a seat belt keeps you safer and increases your chance of surviving a crash.
                NHTSA In Action
                  

                  NHTSA is dedicated to eliminating risky behaviors on our nation's roads
          
          
    
  
       
  As part of NHTSA's mission to help Americans drive, ride and walk safely, we work to educate Americans about how to protect themselves and others on the road through public service campaigns such as Buckle Up America, Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up (promoting tween seat belt use), and Click It or Ticket, (associated with increased seat belt enforcement periods supported by State and local law enforcement across the country).

 
  Save a life: buckle up
					Your seat belt is crucial to surviving a crash. Make it a habit to always buckle up every time.
											In 2021, half of passenger vehicle occupants who died in crashes were unrestrained.From 1975 through 2017, seat belts have saved an estimated 374,276 lives.
										
											
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			Wear your seat belt every time—no matter how uncomfortable it feels or how far you're going. #ClickItOrTicket
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