Why Aren’t People Wearing Seatbelts in Georgia?

One of the most effective safety features in a car is the seatbelt. They lock in place and prevent you from ejecting from your seat in the event of a car crash. We all grew up with the phrase, “Buckle up, it’s the law,” and these signs are everywhere on the road.

However, seatbelt laws change from state to state. In Georgia, people in the front seat of the car are required to wear seatbelts, but not those in the back. This allows people the opportunity to opt out of protecting themselves when they’re in a car. Unfortunately, this also means they’re at a higher risk for injury and fatality when they’re in a crash.

In 2015, the U.S. saw 22,441 passenger vehicle fatalities, and more than half of those fatalities were people who weren’t wearing seatbelts. The truth is that wearing a seatbelt makes you safer whether you’re sitting in the front or the back.

Car crashes can turn your life upside down. You might experience physical or emotional trauma, and need to stop everything so you can recover. In these situations, you need a car accident lawyer. The attorneys at Bey & Associates in Atlanta, Georgia will help you make your case so you don’t have to be the one worrying about insurance adjusters or handling a courtroom on your own.

What Are Some Georgia Seatbelt Statistics?

While it might be surprising that opting out of a seatbelt is still a possibility, it seems that generally, people are using seatbelts more. The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety reported over the past six years, seatbelt use has been steadily increasing.

• 2010: 89.4% of people in Georgia wore seatbelts.
• 2011: There was an increase to 90%.
• 2012: This year went up slightly to 90.5%
• 2013: The number went to 91.7%.
• 2014: In this year, the number jumped to 93.4%.
• 2015: The increase streak continued to 94.9%.
• 2016: About 95.8% of people in Georgia used seatbelts.

This is a good sign because people are being more cautious and practicing this safety measure on the road. As a result, unrestrained fatalities have decreased as well.

• 2010: 549 unrestrained people died in car accidents.
• 2011: The number of fatalities dropped to 504.
• 2012: This year it decreased to 450.
• 2013: 410 people died in car accidents.
• 2014: The number dropped below 400 to 392 fatalities.
• 2015: 388 people died in unrestrained fatalities.

The trend shows some decrease, but 388 is still a high number. Wearing seatbelts and maintaining that extra layer of safety could be the difference between an injury and a fatality.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, don’t hesitate to contact our firm today.