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Nebraska Seat Belt Facts

It's a FACT.  Seat Belts Save Lives.

2.54 inches isn't much.  It's about the length of your pinky finger, the width of your iPhone, and smaller than a floppy disk (remember those?).  The fact is - it's a pretty small distance, yet one that can save your life.

Seat Belt Facts to Consider - Nebraska 2016 Statistics*

  • In Nebraska, 218 people died and 17,962 were injured in traffic crashes in 2016.
  • In Nebraska, one collision occurs every 15 minutes.
  • Forty-nine people were injured each day in motor vehicle crashes and one person was killed every 40 hours.
  • Of the 218 traffic fatalities, 181 (83%) were occupants of passenger vehicles.
  • Of the 181 traffic fatalities, 63 (35%) were rollovers.
  • Of the 181 traffic fatalities, only 63 (35%) were wearing seat belts; 118 (65%) were not wearing seat belts.
  • Of the 142  (69%) not wearing seat belts, 53 (37%) were thrown from the vehicle.
  • Motor vehicle crashes cost Nebraska over $943,211,800 in 2016 utilizing the 2015 National Safety Council calculable costs of motor vehicle crashes. 
  • Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among those ages 5-34.
  • The observed seat belt use rate in 2016 for drivers and passengers was 83.3%.
  • Seat belts - when used - reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45% and light truck occupants by 60%.

Doesn't it just make sense to wear your seat belt - Every time.

Make a commitment to yourself and to your family.  Always wear your seat belt and make it a rule in your vehicle that everyone must be buckled.

It's the little things that can make a big difference - just 2.54 inches can save a life.

* Source:  Nebraska Office of Highway Safety