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There’s no question that seatbelts save lives. Statistics show that people who buckle up are more likely to survive a car accident without suffering from a serious injury or fatality than those who do not. When utilized correctly, a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatal injuries to those in the front seat by 45%. It reduces the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%. In more than half of all fatal car accidents, those who suffer from a fatal injury are not wearing seatbelts. When it comes to back seat occupants, seatbelts are even more effective, especially in vans and SUVs. Proper seatbelt use can reduce fatalities by 73% in SUVs and vans.
WALB reports that Georgia may be passing laws requiring back seat passengers to wear seatbelts.
Beginning in 2020, riding in the back seat of a vehicle without buckling up could get you ticketed.
Lawmakers in Georgia are looking at legislation that would require every passenger in a vehicle to wear seatbelts. Buckling up for front-seat passengers and drivers has been a requirement since 1988 in cars and since 2011 for trucks.
Georgia State Patrol Sgt. Craig Singletary said that passengers in the back seat have an open space which increases the chances for an ejection. Distracted driving has also increased the number of rear-end wrecks, which can pose dangers for back seat passengers.
According to statistics, on Georgia roads in 2017, of the more than 1,000 people killed in crashes, 44% were not wearing seatbelts.
Georgia is one of only 20 states who do not require the use of seat belts in the back seats.
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