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The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reports that the number 1 cause of death for children and young adults who are ages 5 to 24, and the number two cause of death for toddlers and adults 25 and older is not wearing seat belts. When worn in the correct way, wearing seat belts has shown to be the best protection against injury in a crash. However, many people believe it is not necessary to wear a seat belt when riding in the backseat. 

In Unbuckled in Back: An Overlooked Issue in Highway Safety, the GHSA (Governors Highway Safety Association) said that rear seat passengers are 3 times more likely to die in a crash if they are unbuckled. 

The driver may also be affected by backseat riders not using seat belts. The GHSA study showed that even if a driver is wearing a seat belt, he/she is more than twice as likely to be killed in a frontal crash when an unbelted person in the backseat is hurled forward causing the driver to be hit with enough force to compress the driver against the steering wheel or windshield. 

The use of seat belts in the backseat not only reduces the amount of movement of the backseat rider, it also holds the passenger in a position to have better protection from rear-seat air bags or air-bag curtains. 

The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) conducted a survey regarding seat belt use in 2016 that showed: 

• 72 percent of respondents said they always use a seat belt in the backseat.
• 66 percent of 35 to 54 year-olds are least likely to use a seat belt in the backseat.
• 4 out of 5 adults said they are least likely to belt up in the backseat when they are taking a short-distance ride in a hired car such as Uber or a taxi. 

USA Today reported on August 3, 2017 that this issue takes on special importance given the popularity of ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft and taxis where customers are more likely to go unbelted than in these vehicles. In 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, 1,018 unrestrained rear-seat occupants died in auto accidents. 

Laws regarding backseat seat belts 

18 states and the District of Columbia have primary seat belt laws in place requiring people over 7 years of age to wear a seat belt in the front and backseats. These primary seat belt laws allow the police to stop and ticket motorists for seat belt violations. 

There are 10 states that have a secondary seat belt law in place that requires individuals to wear a seat belt in the back seat; however, they cannot be cited for it unless they are already being cited for another violation. 

Florida is among 22 states with no law in place requiring rear seat belts to be used, according to GHSA. 

What can be done to get more people to buckle up in rear seats? 

Congress asked the Department of Transportation to propose a rule for rear seat belt reminder systems by October 2014. Nothing has been done to date. 

Consumer Reports says that adding seat belt reminder chimes for rear seats, like those for up-front drivers and riders, could probably get more people to buckle up. 

“Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. has the experience to assist you or your loved ones if injured in a vehicle crash. Contact us immediately after seeking medical aid for a no-fee consultation. There are no costs or attorney fees unless we make a monetary recovery for you,” said Naples Personal Injury Lawyer, Randall Spivey.

Naples Personal Injury Lawyer, 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.