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As reported on the NBC Today show, Thursday, October, 23, the Broward County (Florida) Sheriff's Office, Department of Fire Rescue, along with Jeff Rossen, of Rossen Reports, conducted seat-belt checks outside a local elementary school. The results may be surprising. 50 percent of the cars stopped had children not properly restrained in seat belts. 

Drivers being interviewed by Mr. Rossen said:

"I told them to buckle in as we were leaving school; like I always do, and I don't know."

"You're driving 15 miles an hour; you're thinking it's a safe speed."

"I forgot."

The U. S. Department of Transportation says that a person not wearing a seat belt in a moving vehicle is 55 percent more likely to be critically injured in a vehicle crash. Motor vehicle injuries, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) are the leading cause of death among U. S. children. 

In Tacoma, Washington, today after the Rossen Report aired, 9 passengers (2 adults and 7 children) in an SUV were involved in a vehicle accident on interstate highway 5.  None of them were wearing seatbelts or in child-restraint seats.

SafeKids.org recommends that parents be pro-active in setting good examples by wearing seat belts themselves and also performing their "Safety Belt Fit Test":

• Your children's knees should bend at the edge of the seat when their backs and bottoms are against the vehicle seat back; and
• The vehicle lap belt should fit across the upper thighs; and
• The shoulder belt should fit across the shoulder and chest.  Children are usually between 8 and 12 years old when the seat belt fits them properly.

They further recommend that when children pass the Safety Belt Fit Test, parents should teach them the importance of using seat belts every time the ride in a vehicle, whether they are with them or not.  This habit should be instilled at an early age.

• "Kids are VIPs" - So, VIPs ride in the back seat at all times until they are age 13.
• Lap and shoulder belts provide the best protection for children.
• Having children sit upright when using seat belts, instead of slouching or leaning against vehicle windows, make a difference in safety.

Because vehicle occupants frequently say, "I forgot" when it comes to putting back-seat seat belts on, Cars.com reports that "Seat Belt Reminders Could Come To The Back Seat". They already have for the Volvo S60 and the Chevrolet Volt.  These warning chimes or dashboard indicators alert when one or more occupants in the back seat are not wearing seat belts.

"Seat belts are proven 'life savers'.  They prevent injuries every day. Please make it a habit to not only wear a seat belt every time you are in a vehicle, but check to be sure all others do too," says Collier County Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Collier County Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.