Yet, young people often fail to wear seat belts and consequently are gravely injured in disproportionate numbers. Increasing seat belt use through the presence of strong seat belt laws and uniform enforcement of such laws have proven effective in saving young lives. Belt Use for Youth Lags Behind Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds nationwide. In 1998, toddlers were restrained at a rate of 87 percent, but youths from ages 5 to 15 were restrained only 68.7 percent of the time.
Drivers are less likely to use restraints when they have been drinking.
Nearly 70 percent of young motor vehicle occupant fatalities died without using a seat belt or motorcycle helmet. Over half of all youths ages 13 to 19 killed as occupants in motor vehicle crashes are unrestrained. Ejection from a vehicle is one of the most life-threatening traumas that can happen to a person in a crash. Safety belts are effective in preventing total ejections. Minorities in Greater Danger Per mile traveled, black and Hispanic male teenagers are nearly twice as likely to die in a motor vehicle crash as male teenagers who are white.