Seat belts save over 13,000 lives every year

“No one can predict when they will be involved in a motor vehicle crash, yet almost all of us will be involved in an automobile crash in our lifetime. Last year, 382 people lost their lives on Kansas roadways and 50 percent of them were unbuckled,” said Cherie Sage, State Director for Safe Kids Kansas. “The single most effective means of protecting the lives of you and your passengers is wearing seat belts and using appropriate child restraints every time you ride in the vehicle – even short distances.”


According to the 2011 KDOT Safety Belt survey, only 83 percent of those surveyed ages 14 and older were wearing their seat belt. This is around the national average of 84 percent. In 2010, Kansas ranked 36th in the nation in seat belt usage.

“It is important that Kansans get the message that seat belts save lives,” stated Sage. “An average of 93 people die each day in motor vehicle crashes nationally; that’s an average of one death every 16 minutes. This is unacceptable.”

Here are the top 5 things you should know about buckling up:

1. Buckling up is the SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash.

2. Air bags are designed to work WITH seat belts, not replace them.

3. Buckle up safely … Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck. Adjust the lap belt across your hips, below your stomach and 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.

5. Everyone in the car should BUCKLE UP, regardless of their seat position.

For more information about safety belt or child safety seat use, visit

www.safekidskansas.org, www.safekids.org or www.nhtsa.gov