If the overall prevalence of seat belt use in states with secondary enforcement laws had matched the higher prevalence in states with primary laws, an additional 7.3 million adults would have buckled up in 2008. Rates of seat belt use are 9 percentage points higher in primary enforcement states than secondary states. Secondary enforcement significantly limits the ability of officers to enforce seat belt laws. Secondary enforcement laws only allow police officers to issue tickets for seat belt violations if drivers have been pulled over for some other offense. Primary enforcement laws allow police officers to pull over drivers and issue tickets just because the drivers-or their passengers- aren’t wearing seat belts. Laws requiring seat belt use are either “primary” or “secondary” enforcement laws. 8 CDC Recommendations Primary enforcement seat belt laws Primary enforcement states have seat belt use 9 percentage points higher than secondary states. CDC recommends effective, well-enforced seat belt laws to ensure that every person in every seat buckles up on every trip. But whether it is because they are in a hurry, distracted, or they simply forget, many people don’t wear their seat belts, and thousands die as a result. Seat belts protect people from needless death and injury. Seat Belts Have Saved an Estimated 255,000 Lives Since 1975 5 What Can We Do? These facts show that increasing seat belt use is critical to reduce injury and saving lives. In one year alone, crash deaths and injuries to drivers and passengers cost $70 billion in medical and lost work costs.If all drivers and passengers had worn seat belts that year, almost 4,000 more people would be alive today. Seat belts saved almost 13,000 lives in 2009. Seat belts save thousands of lives each year, and increasing use would save thousands more.More than 3 out of 4 people who are ejected during a fatal crash die from their injuries. People not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash. Seat belts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected during a crash.Among drivers and front-seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. Seat belts dramatically reduce risk of death and serious injury.53% of drivers and passengers killed in car crashes in 2009 were not wearing restraints.
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Most drivers and passengers killed in crashes are unrestrained.