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MICHIGAN’S SEAT BELT CRISIS: LINGERING PANDEMIC HABITS PUT MOTORISTS AT RISK

Published by Bill Laubscher at February 28, 2024

person grabbing a seat belt to secure it in the latch

Since 2009, “Click It or Ticket” has been a familiar and effective traffic safety slogan. However, seat belt use has declined since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. While fewer drivers are buckling up, more are engaging in reckless behaviors such as drunk driving and speeding. Tragically, more people are dying on Michigan roads despite an overall decrease in accidents.

Here is what drivers should know, including the benefits of hiring an experienced car accident attorney if you are injured in a crash.

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WHY DID SEAT BELT USE DECLINE DURING THE PANDEMIC?

The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic extended far beyond the ravages of the disease itself. One unfortunate result was an increase in reckless driving behaviors that included excessive speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to wear seat belts.

According to a study by Michigan State University, seat belt use has declined approximately 2 percent since 2019. Last year, 92.4 percent of motorists reported wearing seat belts compared to 92.9 percent in 2022.

While these decreases may not seem significant, a 1 percent loss translates to an additional 10 deaths and 100 more serious injuries.

Some of the reasons for this deadly trend include:

People got out of the habit of buckling up when businesses and schools were closed for an extended period of time
Staffing issues and fears about contracting Covid-19 resulted in fewer traffic stops for violations such as driving without a seat belt
More people were driving solo rather than carpooling or ride-sharing

WHAT ARE THE SEAT BELT LAWS FOR MICHIGAN DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS?

According to the Michigan Vehicle Code, seat belts are mandatory for all drivers, front-seat passengers and anyone under the age of 16 (regardless of seating position).

Children 2 and under should ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child exceeds the height and weight requirements specified by the seat manufacturer. In addition, the airbag must be turned off any time a child is riding in the front of the car in a rear-facing car seat.

Children under 4 should ride in the rear seat(s) of the vehicle whenever possible, unless all available rear seats are occupied by other children under 4. The proper car seat or booster seat for the child’s age, height and weight should always be used, regardless of which row a child is occupying.

Finally, children who are 8 and older, or 4’ 9″ or taller, may ride in the front seat, using an appropriately sized car seat, booster or seat belt, depending on height and weight.

Recommended reading: A Parent’s Guide to Michigan Car Seat Laws

FICTION OR FACT: DEBUNKING THE MOST COMMON SEAT BELT MYTHS

Here are the facts behind the most common excuses people use for refusing to wear seat belts:

MYTHS: Seat belts are too inconvenient and uncomfortable.

FACT: When worn and adjusted properly, seat belts do not cause discomfort. People who make a habit of buckling up forget they are wearing a seat belt once the drive gets underway. Furthermore, any minor inconvenience or discomfort pales in comparison to the serious consequences of hitting the windshield or being thrown from a vehicle after a crash.

MYTH: My seat belts don’t work properly.

FACT: While the newer shoulder belts are designed so the wearer can move comfortably; they will still lock up when the vehicle stops suddenly or crashes into another car or stationary object.

MYTH: Seat belts are not necessary in vehicles equipped with air bags.

FACT: Although air bags provide supplemental protection in head-on crashes, motorists can slide under them if they are not wearing seat belts. In addition, air bags do not protect occupants in rollover crashes or side- or rear-impact collisions.

MYTH: If I wear a seat belt I may be trapped if the car catches fire or goes underwater.

FACT: Crashes involving fire or water happen in only 1/2 of one percent of all motor vehicle accidents. However, this does happen, survival depends on remaining conscious, uninjured, and in full possession of your faculties. Someone who is not belted is more likely to be rendered unconscious or severely injured by the impact of the crash. Wearing a seat belt increases the chance of getting out of the situation alive.

MYTH: I’d rather be thrown clear in a crash.

FACT: Being thrown gently enough from a car to land safely in a clear area is almost impossible. It is more likely an unbelted person will be thrown through the windshield, scraped along the pavement or crushed one of the vehicles involved in the accident.

MYTH: Seat belts can cause injuries in a crash.

FACT: While seat belts may cause some bruising or surface cuts in a crash, they seldom cause serious injuries when properly worn. In any case, the odds of being severely injured or killed are much greater for crash victims who are not wearing seat belts. And numerous studies have shown that individuals injured while wearing seat belts would have been more severely hurt if they had not been belted when the crash occurred.

MYTH: I don’t need a seat belt if I’m not going far or driving fast.

FACT: Statistics show most fatal crashes occur within 25 miles of home at speeds of less than 40 miles per hour. Therefore, everyday trips to school or the nearby grocery store pose a greater risk than longer highway trips.

MYTH: The risk of an accident is so small. Those things only happen to other people.

FACT: No one wants to think about being injured in a car crash. It is normal to believe bad things only happen to other people. However, research shows one out of three people will be seriously injured in a car crash during their lifetime. The risk is real but we can reduce it by buckling up whenever we travel by car.

MYTH: I’m a good driver, so it won’t happen to me.

FACT: Even the best drivers cannot control the actions of other drivers, especially those that are distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving defensively can help avoid some accidents, but wearing a seat belt can help prevent serious injuries when a crash is unavoidable.

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