11

Why WearWhy Wear Seat Belts? Seat Belts?

22

The ExcusesThe Excuses

"I can't move with those belts on - they're "I can't move with those belts on - they're so uncomfortable!"so uncomfortable!"

"I only drive around town; how can I get "I only drive around town; how can I get hurt going 25 miles per hour?”hurt going 25 miles per hour?”

"I'm a good driver. I've never had an "I'm a good driver. I've never had an accident." accident."

"It's better to be thrown out of the car "It's better to be thrown out of the car than be trapped in by a seatbelt."than be trapped in by a seatbelt."

33

The FactsThe Facts

Newer seatbelt design allows for total freedom Newer seatbelt design allows for total freedom of motion while driving. of motion while driving. The latching device that secures the belt only goes The latching device that secures the belt only goes

into effect when the car jolts abruptly, as in an into effect when the car jolts abruptly, as in an accident.accident.

People who are thrown from cars are 25 times People who are thrown from cars are 25 times more likely to be killed than if they had been more likely to be killed than if they had been held securely in their seats. held securely in their seats.

In the unlikely event your car catches fire or is In the unlikely event your car catches fire or is submerged, seatbelts can keep you from submerged, seatbelts can keep you from getting "knocked out" and greatly improve your getting "knocked out" and greatly improve your chances of escape.chances of escape.

44

The FactsThe Facts

The majority of all car accidents occur within 25 The majority of all car accidents occur within 25 miles of home.miles of home.

80% of all serious injuries and fatalities occur 80% of all serious injuries and fatalities occur in cars going 40 miles per hour or slower.in cars going 40 miles per hour or slower.

You may be a good driver, but there are You may be a good driver, but there are situations beyond your control such as weather situations beyond your control such as weather and road conditions (not to mention other and road conditions (not to mention other drivers) that can affect your safety.drivers) that can affect your safety.

55

The FactsThe Facts

Seat belts are 57 percent effective in Seat belts are 57 percent effective in preventing traumatic and fatal brain injuries. preventing traumatic and fatal brain injuries.

Brain and chest injuries are the most frequent Brain and chest injuries are the most frequent cause of death in collisions without seatbelts.cause of death in collisions without seatbelts.

In a crash, unrestrained occupants of a car In a crash, unrestrained occupants of a car keep moving during the time the car takes to keep moving during the time the car takes to stop. They are still moving forward at their stop. They are still moving forward at their original speed when they slam into the steering original speed when they slam into the steering wheel, windshield or other part of the car. wheel, windshield or other part of the car.

66

The FactsThe Facts

Simple but important principles underlie the Simple but important principles underlie the effectiveness of seat belts. In a crash they: effectiveness of seat belts. In a crash they: Increase the limit it takes the occupant to stop. Increase the limit it takes the occupant to stop. Spread the force of impact over a large portion of Spread the force of impact over a large portion of

the body. the body. Minimize contact with the vehicle's interior. Minimize contact with the vehicle's interior. Protect occupants from being thrown out. Protect occupants from being thrown out. Research has found that lap/shoulder safety belts, Research has found that lap/shoulder safety belts,

when used, reduced the risk of fatal injury to front-when used, reduced the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent.the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent.

77

The FactsThe Facts

Ejection from the vehicle is one of the most Ejection from the vehicle is one of the most injurious events that can happen to a person in injurious events that can happen to a person in a crash. a crash. In fatal crashes, 73 percent of passenger car In fatal crashes, 73 percent of passenger car

occupants who were totally ejected from the vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from the vehicle were killed. were killed.

Safety belts are effective in preventing total Safety belts are effective in preventing total ejections.ejections. Only one percent of the occupants reported to have Only one percent of the occupants reported to have

been using restraints were totally ejected, compared been using restraints were totally ejected, compared with 20 percent of the unrestrained occupants. with 20 percent of the unrestrained occupants.

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The FactsThe Facts

According to the National Highway and Traffic According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, over the past 10 years, Safety Administration, over the past 10 years, safety belts have prevented some 55,600 safety belts have prevented some 55,600 deaths; 1,300,000 injuries and saved more deaths; 1,300,000 injuries and saved more than $105 billion in costs.than $105 billion in costs.

Among passenger vehicle occupants over 4 Among passenger vehicle occupants over 4 years old, safety belts saved an estimated years old, safety belts saved an estimated 10,414 lives in 1996. 10,414 lives in 1996.

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Why WearWhy WearSeat Belts?Seat Belts?

You decide!You decide!

1010

Why wear seatbelts?Why wear seatbelts?

1111

Consider ThisConsider This

Department of Defense Instructions 6055.4 Department of Defense Instructions 6055.4 states –states – E3.12.1.1. All personnel, as listed in paragraph 2.2. E3.12.1.1. All personnel, as listed in paragraph 2.2.

of this Instruction, operating or riding in motor of this Instruction, operating or riding in motor vehicles shall wear safety belts. This does not apply vehicles shall wear safety belts. This does not apply to passengers riding in buses not equipped with to passengers riding in buses not equipped with safety belts. Reference (c) specifically requires safety belts. Reference (c) specifically requires Federal employees to use seat belts while on official Federal employees to use seat belts while on official business. The DoD Components may develop and business. The DoD Components may develop and approve safety requirements for mission and tactical approve safety requirements for mission and tactical operations where normal occupant protection operations where normal occupant protection requirements may not be appropriate.requirements may not be appropriate.

1212

Consider ThisConsider This

And –And – E3.12.1.2. Child safety seats shall be used on E3.12.1.2. Child safety seats shall be used on

DoD installations. Installation traffic safety DoD installations. Installation traffic safety programs shall be consistent with State or programs shall be consistent with State or local child safety seat laws. If there is no local child safety seat laws. If there is no applicable local requirement, the installation applicable local requirement, the installation traffic safety program shall specify age, traffic safety program shall specify age, weight, or other criteria for child safety seat weight, or other criteria for child safety seat use. The DoD Components are highly use. The DoD Components are highly encouraged to sponsor child safety seat encouraged to sponsor child safety seat loaner programs. loaner programs.

1313

Consider ThisConsider This

And –And – E3.12.1.3. The vehicle operator shall be E3.12.1.3. The vehicle operator shall be

responsible for informing passengers of the responsible for informing passengers of the safety belt requirement. The senior safety belt requirement. The senior occupant shall be responsible for ensuring occupant shall be responsible for ensuring enforcement. For civilian employees, if the enforcement. For civilian employees, if the senior occupant cannot be ascertained, the senior occupant cannot be ascertained, the driver shall be responsible for enforcement. driver shall be responsible for enforcement.

1414

Consider ThisConsider This

And –And – E3.12.1.4. All nonuse of occupant protective E3.12.1.4. All nonuse of occupant protective

devices shall be enforced as a primary traffic devices shall be enforced as a primary traffic violation. Each DoD Component that violation. Each DoD Component that regulates operating privileges shall establish regulates operating privileges shall establish procedures for applicable mandatory procedures for applicable mandatory administrative or disciplinary action, to administrative or disciplinary action, to include the suspension of operating include the suspension of operating privileges on DoD installations and in areas privileges on DoD installations and in areas subject to military traffic supervision. Traffic subject to military traffic supervision. Traffic points shall be assessed as required by local points shall be assessed as required by local laws and regulations laws and regulations

1515

Consider ThisConsider This

Finally –Finally – E3.12.5. Educational Programs. Education E3.12.5. Educational Programs. Education

programs shall be developed to ensure programs shall be developed to ensure military and civilian personnel are aware of military and civilian personnel are aware of the requirements in this Instruction.the requirements in this Instruction.

1616

Why WearWhy WearSeat Belts?Seat Belts?

It’s the law!It’s the law! Odds of surviving a crash are in your favor Odds of surviving a crash are in your favor It makes sense!It makes sense!

1717

Safe and SecureSafe and Secure

Drive defensively and use your Drive defensively and use your seatbelts!seatbelts!