I remember when there were no laws regarding seat belt use and when the first law was passed in Virginia requiring seat belts to be worn by front seat passengers. As research mounted supporting seat belt use and the Virginia Legislature expanded the law to include all passengers regardless of where they were seated in the vehicle and for children to use seatbelts in tandem with child safety seats. Today, it is still a requirement and the driver of the vehicle will be charged if everyone is not properly secured.
In most cases, it is still considered a secondary offense. Although an officer can pull over a driver whom he or she believes is under the age of 18 and issue a ticket for failure to use a seatbelt as a primary offense.
Why is it more important to wear your seatbelt now than it was …say 30 years ago?
First of all it was important to be properly restrained in a moving vehicle 30 years ago. Sadly, the general public just didn’t know how important and were the victims of misinformation. Because of the reluctance of auto manufacturers to install seat belts as standard equipment on vehicles, many rumors swirled about the effectiveness of their use. People were told that they were safer without the seat belt on if their car was underwater or even that they had a better chance of surviving a car crash if they were ejected from the vehicle! The research did not support either of these claims (obviously!). New York was the first state to require seat belt use for front seat passengers (adults and children) on December 1, 1984. Most states did not require seat belt use for rear seat passengers until 1989.
When were seat belts invented and by whom?
Seat belts were invented sometime in the mid 19th century by a gentleman named George Cayley. Another man by the name of Edward Claghorn applied for the first patent in 1885. These first generation seat belts were actually invented to prevent ejection from horse-drawn carriages.
Yes, you read that right, it took 99 years to mainstream their use in the United States.
So, why did people start using seatbelts?
Seatbelt use primarily started with pilots. Particularly stunt pilots and pilots of small planes flown during the war. Seatbelts prevented these pilots from falling to their deaths during stunt manuevers. From there, their popularity spread to race car drivers. Doctors took note of the injuries from car accidents and started having them installed in their own vehicles. This was in the 1930’s, a time when fewer vehicles were on the road and those vehicles traveled at slower speeds than today’s cars, yet auto accidents still caused serious injury and death.
Fast forward to 1956 when Volvo, Ford and Chrylser offered seat belts as an option. It may come as no surprise that Volvo offered the first shoulder belt and lap belt combination, now known as the three-point harness.
By 1959, Volvo made the 3 point safety harness a standard feature on all of its models. By 2002, the company estimated that the modern day seatbelt was responsible for saving over a million lives.
By 1981, all cars manufactured in the U.S. were equipped with seatbelts. But due to a decade of arguing between the NHSTA and the auto industry, the CDC estimates that only 11% of the population utilizes the life-saving device. The U.S. was also about 20 years behind Europe in regulating seat belt use and improving highway safety for its citizens.
In 1983, State Farm Insurance becomes wise to their own perilous situation. After reviewing the research and realizing how much money they would save from injury and wrongful death claims, the company decides to sue the NHSTA and force them to propose seat belt regulations. By the late 1990’s, many states followed suit and passed laws requiring seat belt use. By 2010, approximately 85% of the population reports using safety belts when in a moving vehicle.
This is fascinating, but with all of the safety features my car has, is it really necessary to wear a seatbelt?
Absolutely! Your vehicle’s safety features, especially the airbags, are designed to work in tandem with the seatbelt. You should also wear the seatbelt correctly and make sure that all of your passengers do as well. Older children tend to find the shoulder belt uncomfortable and will sometimes place it behind their backs, leaving only the lap belt in place. This is very dangerous! Without the shoulder belt to hold the child in place, the child can still be ejected from the vehicle or tossed into the seat in front of them. When a child is propelled forward, they are more likely to suffer head, neck and spine injuries if not restrained properly.
Is it really that bad?
I’m afraid so. Just last month, five people were recently injured and one person died after being ejected from a 1998 Jeep Wrangler in Bedford County. None of the vehicle’s occupants were wearing seatbelts. The accident is still being investigated. The driver’s name has not been released since he or she is a minor. According to Virginia law, the driver of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all passengers “buckle up.” No charges have been filed as of this posting.
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