New York City Seatbelt Safety And Car Accident Injury Prevention

This week in New York on the NY Thruway, an 11-year-old girl, MaKenzie Garrett was ejected from the rear passenger side of her father's vehicle after the car slammed into a guardrail. Although investigators are still collecting evidence on whether or not the girl was wearing her seat belt, most people who are ejected from the car during an accident were not wearing safety belts.

Very simply, if everyone always wore their seatbelt while in the car, the lives of hundreds of New Yorkers could be saved every year and NYC car accident injuries would be cut in half. Car accident victims are 25 times more likely to die if they are thrown from a vehicle - and a safety belt almost absolutely prevents an ejection from taking place.

Seat belts don't just protect the person who wears one - passengers not wearing seat belts can become deadly objects when the car is involved in an accident. An occupant not wearing a seat belt in the back seat can slam into someone in the front who is properly restrained, seriously injuring or killing them.

Wearing your safety belt in New York and New York City won't just save your life or prevent serious car accident injuries - it's also the law. Unlike many other states, in which an officer can ticket you for not wearing a seatbelt only if he stops you for another traffic infraction, New York is a primary enforcement state: NY police officers can pull you over simply because you are not buckled up. Seatbelts are not required in limos, buses, taxis, classic cars, or emergency vehicles.