You wear a seat belt in the back seat? Many don't
According to a new survey, most adults who ride in the back seat don’t wear their seat belt.
There’s been a huge push – and a lot of legislation – to get people to buckle up in the front seat. But the campaign doesn’t seem to have translated to the back, according to LeaseTrader.com, a car leasing site that conducted the survey.
Officials polled more than 1,000 men and women around the country who rode in the back seat of a car at least 25 times in 2010.
Among those in state with rear-seat restraint laws – including Texas, Washington, Minnesota and California – men said they wore their belt 14.3 percent of the time. Women reported they wore their belt 18.4 percent of the time.
In states with no law – including Illinois, Arizona, Tennessee, Nebraska and Pennsylvania – the percentage was 9.6 percent for men and 16.3 percent for women. The same people said they wear a seat in while in front of the car 75.2 percent of the time. (Maryland has no back-seat law for adults.)
The reasons for not wearing a belt in the back included forgetting (63.2 percent), felt it wasn’t necessary (13.4 percent), didn’t think it was the law (9.8 percent) and felt safe without it (8.6 percent).
“What’s most disturbing is that in this day and age of always-on news coverage and awareness, there is no excuse why more people aren’t wearing seat belts in all parts of the vehicle,” said Sergio Stiberman, chief executive and founder of LeaseTrader.com, in a statement. “Whether it’s the local television news or an online news source, we see daily images and stories of people getting hurt while driving or riding in a vehicle which should serve as a reminder of why it’s important to buckle up.”
Baltimore Sun file photo/Algerina Perna
Comments
I think an obvious question comes to mind: What is the big difference between the front and back seat of a car, that would allow for a different set of rules regarding seat belt use?
Posted by: Mike | February 11, 2011 9:14 AM
i know someone who was in a terrible accident while riding in the backseat where the lapbelt actually caused a lot of damage. he always wears his seatbelt no matter where he's sitting, tho.
Posted by: dude | February 11, 2011 1:36 PM
front seat with no seat belt you fly thru the windshield.
Back seat you just fly into the back of the front seat. Kind of the same reason why seat belts aren't used in school buses.
Personally I have always worn a seatbelt in the front seat--100% of the time since I was a kid. But I rarely wear one in the back seat...typically only while riding in mini-van (captain seats) or SUVs. don't feel necessary in a sedan.
Posted by: 57 Chevy | February 11, 2011 3:35 PM
This little boy should be in a booster seat! Boosters until 8 years old or 80 pounds. Take this photo down, Sun staff!
Posted by: Jamie | February 13, 2011 12:56 PM
You don't just gently 'fly into the back of the front seat'. Depending on the strength of the impact, angle, if there's rollover, and many other factors involving the physics of motion and impact, you become a flying missile. Your face might smash into the back of that front seat with enough force to break most of your bones, Consider that your body may become a very heavy blunt object hitting someone in the front seat with a lot of force. For Pete's sake, what's the inconvenience of a seatbelt against reconstructive facial surgery?
Posted by: binky | February 13, 2011 3:16 PM
It is dangerous for unbelted back seat passengers and those traveling with them, especially young children. A unbelted adult can be thrown against and severely injury others in the car in the event of an accident.
Posted by: stasia | February 14, 2011 7:40 AM