Safety Starts with You. Buckle Up to Save Lives.
Every year, thousands of lives are lost in preventable accidents due to not wearing seat belts. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 916 fatal crashes among truck drivers in 2022. 69.3% of these truck drivers weren’t wearing seatbelts. In 2021, it was 64%. And in 2020, 44%.
This growing trend of CMV drivers failing to wear seatbelts underscores the importance of seat belt enforcement and increased awareness. Fortunately, the FMCSA conducts educational campaigns targeted at CMV drivers, carriers, and the general public, as well as mandating that all CMV drivers must wear seat belts while driving their vehicles.
Even with this widespread knowledge, a significant percentage of drivers still put themselves and others at risk, leading to severe injuries and deaths on our roads. Here’s why safety starts with you and how we can all work towards a future where seat belt usage isn’t just a preference – but a daily practice.
Why Aren’t More Drivers Wearing Seat Belts?
In order to increase awareness about seatbelt usage, it’s important to establish why many drivers refuse to wear one in the first place. This is not just a common issue among CMV drivers, but teenagers, younger males, and passengers in the rear seat of a vehicle.
There are several reasons why someone may choose not to wear a seatbelt. The two biggest factors, according to an MVOSS study, are that seat belts are uncomfortable and that the driving distance is too short to warrant wearing a seatbelt.
Other reasons include:
- Forgetfulness
- Being in a hurry
- Resentment at government interference
- The belief that airbags should suffice in a crash
For CMV drivers specifically, their reasons are as follows:
- Inconvenience in fastening a seatbelt 20+ times per day
- Protection of being in a large truck
- Seatbelts make it harder to escape from a submerged or burning truck
- Low driving speeds don’t warrant a seatbelt
- Skilled truck drivers don’t wear seatbelts
It’s important to note that the above factors (for CMV drivers) are myths and common misconceptions, all of which are debunked by overwhelming evidence that wearing a seatbelt saves lives.
Why Is It Important to Buckle Up?
Seatbelts are, of course, paramount in reducing your risk of injury and death during a car crash. In fact, according to the NHTSA, drivers and passengers who wear seatbelts are 50% less likely to sustain moderate injuries during a crash and 45% less likely to die.
But how do seatbelts work? In the event of a crash, a seat belt allows a driver to remain in control of a vehicle while securing them in place. The stress and impact are then distributed throughout the stronger areas of our bodies, like the hips and shoulders. This reduces the risk of hitting the steering wheel, windshield, and other interior components of a vehicle, thus, reducing the risk of injuries and death.
Seat belts also prevent ejection from a vehicle, which eliminates secondary impacts with road surfaces, other vehicles, or objects within the surrounding environment.
Which Seat Belt Campaigns Are Raising Awareness?
In an effort to promote widespread seatbelt usage, both the FMCSA and the U.S. DOT have created the following national campaigns: “Y I Buckle Up” and “Click It or Ticket,” respectively.
“Y I Buckle Up” is targeted at CMV drivers, especially the 14% who never wear a seatbelt. The campaign includes several PSAs, printed materials, social media graphics, and additional resources to stay safe on the road. The FMCSA also highlights the following important reasons for wearing a seatbelt:
- It ensures your safety.
- Increased chance of making it home safely to see friends and family.
- It’s the law.
The U.S. DOT’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign is enforced annually and during this timeframe, law enforcement personnel are on high alert for drivers who aren’t wearing seatbelts. The goal is to stress the importance of wearing a seatbelt for both drivers and passengers and those who fail to comply will be subject to fines.
Don’t Be Another Statistic
It goes without saying that wearing a seatbelt saves lives, and if all drivers and passengers made this a regular habit, then the risk of injuries and deaths during a crash would decrease dramatically. Don’t be another statistic by refusing to wear a seatbelt. Make your safety and the safety of others your top priority when driving on the road.
Compliance Safety Manager can help you make safety a top priority with personnel and asset management tools for your fleet. You’ll be able to manage an unlimited number of assets, such as log notes, accident reports, work orders, and maintenance schedules from wherever you are located. Contact us to learn how we can help with your compliance.