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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reported high compliance with seatbelt usage at 90.2 percent. The 2017 survey showed that seatbelt use differed by the type of road on which drivers travelled. Usage rated the highest on interstate highways, at 92.4 percent, and the lowest on local roads, at 87.6 percent.

Usage also varied by vehicle type:

• Pickup truck cabs – 83.8 percent
• Sport utility front seat occupants – 92.3 percent
• Passenger car occupants – 90.5 percent
• Van occupants – 90.2 percent

A private survey company was commissioned to conduct the FDOT survey. The company conducted observations every day of the week between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in select Florida counties. Observers recorded seatbelt use of 25,469 drivers and 6,496 front-seat passengers across 15 counties.

Although 2017 survey results showed that progress was made, the results also point to areas where improvements are still needed. FDOT encourages the use of proven countermeasures to work to address any disproportionately low-use groups. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports on the effectiveness and cost of specific seatbelt-use countermeasures in its report titled “Countermeasures that Work 2017.”

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) wants teens to know that 60.7 percent of teen passengers ages 16 to 19 who died in crashes were not wearing their seatbelts, and 51.2 percent of teen drivers ages 16 to 19 who died were also not belted. SADD believes that teens and parents need to be educated on the vital importance of wearing seatbelts and there needs to be more stringent law enforcement. Across the country, SADD chapters have been implementing SADD’s “Rock the Belt” program. It is a week-long event where students participate in fun and effective activities to raise awareness, educate and engage peers, the community, and even parents on the statistics and why it is critical to buckle up, every time, in every vehicle. “Rock the Belt” is held during National Teen Safe Driving Week in October of each year.

“It has been proven that wearing seatbelts saves lives. We join others in encouraging the use of seatbelts at all times for everyone,” said Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. “If you or a loved one is injured in an accident, please contact us 24/7, and there are no costs or attorney fees unless we make a monetary recovery for you.”

Fort Myers Car 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.