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A recent study performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that states with primary safety belt enforcement laws have lower fatality rates arising from automobile collisions. According to the study, safety belt use is the most effective measure available to passengers to prevent injuries from automobile crashes. In order to encourage the use of safety belts, many states have enacted safety belt legislation.
Safety belt laws vary but these laws generally can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary laws permit law enforcement officers to stop a vehicle and issue a citation for a safety belt violation, even if this is the only violation the officers notice. Secondary laws allow law enforcement officers to issue safety belt citations to motorists only after they stop drivers for other traffic violations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows that the percentage of unbelted passenger fatalities in the states with primary laws is much lower than that in secondary states, 51 percent versus 65 percent during 2000–2004. Please review the entire study for more information on automobile collisions and safety statistics.
If you believe you or a family member suffered serious injuries as the result of an automobile collision that was another driver’s fault, you may contact us on-line at Regan Zambri & Long or call us at (202) 463-3030 for a free consultation.
