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Study: The Deathly Truth About Americans’ Seat Belt Habits

Posted by Maria Shayna Tzouvelekis | Tue, May 31, 2016 @ 04:00 PM

“Click It or Ticket.” We all know the phrase; it’s the most successful safety campaign ever produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). More than half of passenger vehicle occupants killed between 2010 and 2014 weren’t wearing seat belts and the latest seat belt user rates study reveals that many continue to risk danger by not utilizing one. Despite lap and shoulder seat belts having been produced in every car since 1974, thirty-one states reported less than 90% belt use rate. 

The study comes at a time when auto dealerships nationwide are seeking ways to connect with customers while increasing sales in a highly competitive market. Facts backed by the nation's Department of Transportation on safety provide valuable talking points for automotive dealers who are already emphasizing vehicle safety features.

According to reports, New Hampshire drivers were the This Click It or Ticket Infographic is Featured on NHTSA's 2016 Campaign Page on nhtsa.govmost resistant to wearing safety belts. Following three years of decline, only 69.5% of New Hampshire drivers utilized them in 2015. Initial studies in 2008 reveal that New Hampshire residents were among the lowest surveyed with percentages floating between 68 and 75% over the past seven years.

Five lowest belt use rates:                                 
  1. New Hampshire (69.5%) 
  2. South Dakota (73.6%) 
  3. Massachusetts (74.1%) 
  4. American Samoa (77%)
  5. Arkansas (77.7%) 

A direct correlation between safety belt law enforcement and user rate has been confirmed by the study. "Jurisdictions with stronger seat belt enforcement laws continue to exhibit generally higher use rates than those with weaker laws."

Not all state drivers are alike; Georgia and California residents were the highest users of safety belts with 97.3% of drivers strapping in. Seventeen fellow states joined Ga. and Calif. as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in the top percentile of safety belt use, all above 90%. 

Five highest belt use rates:        

  1. California (97.3%)
  2. Georgia (97.3%) 
  3. Northern Mariana Islands (95.6%)
  4. District of Columbia (95.5%)
  5. Illinois (95.2%) 

What are the odds of surviving a car crash without a seat belt? The NHTSA created this 30 second video to demonstrate the answer in a creative way as part of a series of media created for their 2016 Click It or Ticket Campaign.

Overall, the nationwide seat belt use was 88.5% in 2015 as measured by NHTSA’s National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). Nationwide belt use is up 1.8% from 2014 and 5.5% higher than 2008's original 83% usage. The latest Click It or Ticket campaign will roll out May 23 - June 5. The campaign site includes infographics that the automotive industry can display or share on social media as well as impactful videos that will make drivers and passengers think twice before driving off without a seat belt. Incorporating the importance of safety into sales strategies and utilizing online platforms as a way to spread the message is a great way to appeal to consumers and may just save a life.

Not much is guaranteed in life, but processing customer payments certainly is. If you operate an automotive dealership or repair shop, then it is imperative that you protect payments with a certified check guarantee service. Approving more checks than the rest, CrossCheck caters to the auto industry and offers C.A.R.S. as an all-inclusive service package designed for automotive dealers and auto after specialists. Download our free insider's guide to learn more about reducing the risk of accepting checks while saving time and money with less declines. 

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Written by Maria Shayna Tzouvelekis

Maria Shayna Tzouvelekis is an Inbound Marketer at CrossCheck in Petaluma, CA.