Seat-belt use in Virginia has reached 84%, which is below the national average of 90%. 
 -  Photo via  State Farm /Flickr.

Seat-belt use in Virginia has reached 84%, which is below the national average of 90%.

Photo via State Farm/Flickr.

A new survey from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles finds that 15.9% of motorists are driving without a seat belt — a slight bump up over a record low of 14.7% in 2017, reports WHSV.

Virginia's rate of seat-belt compliance of approximately 84% lags behind the national average of 90%.

In 2017, 308 people in Virginia lost their lives because they were not wearing a seat belt during a crash. In 2016 and 2015, there were 304 and 310 fatalities, respectively, for people who failed to buckle up, reports WHSV.

Moreover, according to Virginia's DMV, an estimated 30% of unbelted motorists are ejected during a collision, reports CBS19News.

Experts note that there is ample evidence that seat belts save lives. Seat belt users are 45% less likely to be fatally injured in a crash and 79% of drivers and passengers ejected in a crash are killed, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About the author
Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Editorial

Our team of enterprising editors brings years of experience covering the fleet industry. We offer a deep understanding of trends and the ever-evolving landscapes we cover in fleet, trucking, and transportation.  

View Bio
0 Comments