Every Belt – Every Ride
In 2004, a campaign called “Every Belt – Every Ride” was launched by OSHA in conjunction with the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (the NHTSA). The main object of the campaign was to encourage federal workers to wear seatbelts every time they ride in a vehicle on public business.
This campaign seeks to remind federal employees of the importance of seatbelts and their life-saving value, as well as remind them of their legal obligation to use seatbelts while in government vehicles, private cars, taxis, or in general when working as a federal employee. Executive Order 13043 mandates this for all federal workers traveling on public business.
The NHTSA estimates that speed-related vehicle crashes cost the U.S. over 40 billion dollars annually. This includes medical and compensation costs linked to motor vehicle injuries and deaths.
Fatalities by Industry
Due to the startlingly high traffic crash statistics (injuries and fatalities), awareness still needs to be brought to light about the cost of these incidents. Not only are traffic crashes the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities in America, but transportation incidents are the most frequent type of fatal work injury.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) issued a National Census of Fatal Occupation Injuries in 2023. According to the data found, transportation incidents accounted for 37% of all occupational fatalities in 2023. Broken down by industry, transportation and warehousing accounted for over 650 incidents of vehicle-related fatal work injuries that year, while construction was around 250, and waste management was around 150 deaths.
Seat Belts Save Lives
Without a restraint, when a crash occurs, it is possible for a person to be ejected through the windshield or be thrown out a side window. In a crash, the vehicle will stop, but passengers inside, will continue to travel at the rate of speed that the car was traveling before the crash–unless that momentum is stopped by a seat belt.
Don’t think that you will be able to catch yourself and stop yourself from hitting the steering wheel and windshield in an accident. Not only is your reaction time not fast enough, but the crash force would also be too great for you to hold back, even if you are going slowly. If you get rear-ended, you will not see it coming until it is too late. Just like riding a motorcycle, crashes are not as much about your driving ability as they are about other, unpredictable events and people who are not paying attention. Additionally, make sure your passengers and children are buckled up properly, too. Even animals traveling with you should be properly secured in a crate that is buckled into a back seat!
Studies show that seat belts make a tremendous difference in the fatality statistics during vehicle crashes. They help prevent severe injuries and death. Using seat belts cuts the risk of death by 45% for car riders and by 60% for those riding in trucks or SUVs. Seatbelts save 14,000 lives each year and are mandated by law in every state. However, 20% of passengers still do not buckle up.
IT’S WORTH THE EFFORT…USE YOUR SEAT BELT!
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