Posted by: Henness & Haight Team

A new study estimates that 90.1 percent of drivers are using their seatbelts, which is an all-time high since the usage of the safety device was first recorded in 1994 by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) is an annual study conducted by the NHTSA that provides the only measurements of nationwide seat belt use and other traffic safety devices.

Findings in the 2016 NOPUS reported that the number of drivers who use seat belts increased by 2.6 percent since 2015 when only 88.5 percent of drivers chose to use their seatbelts.

The NHTSA’s goal is to reach 100 percent seat belt use by reminding drivers about the protection that the device provides. According to the administration, the seat belt is the safest device in a vehicle.

Research has shown that seat belts have saved approximately 345,000 lives since 1975, according to the NHTSA. An estimated 14,000 lives have been saved because of seat belts in 2015 alone and half of the people killed in car accidents that year were not wearing a seat belt.

Seat belt use in the U.S. is highest in the West, where police strictly enforce the safety device’s use through fines and tickets through campaigns such as Click It or Ticket.

Like most states, Nevada has a primary seat belt law for front-seat occupants, which means that a police officer can pull over a driver for not wearing their seat belt, without any other traffic offense. A secondary seat belt law is enforced in 15 states that enable police to issue additional tickets for the nonuse of a seat belt if the driver was pulled over for a separate traffic violation.

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a car accident, speak with our experienced auto accident attorneys. At Henness & Haight, we understand that this may be a traumatic time for you and your family and we want to help.

We will provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation to review your claim and determine if your situation entitles compensation. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis and charge no fees unless you are awarded damages or receive a favorable outcome.