Georgia Injury Law Blog
Seatbelts are the single most effective piece of life-saving equipment in modern automobiles, helping protect thousands of motorists against severe personal injuries in car accidents every year. Researchers at Emory are making good use of a grant to study seatbelt usage rates in Georgia and how they can be expanded.
Researchers at the Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory received a grant of more than $300,000 from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The grant has been made to encourage researchers to monitor seatbelt usage rates across Georgia and track the rates of distracted driving. Understanding these issues will provide researchers the information they need to develop strategies to increase seatbelt use thereby preventing auto accidents.
Seatbelt usage rates in Georgia are on the higher side, but could always be better. According to the researchers, seatbelt rates in Georgia increased from 87.6% in 2023 to 88.8% in 2024. Georgia motorists have gotten better at buckling up over the past few decades, thanks to the awareness efforts of transportation authorities and strict enforcement of existing seatbelt laws. However, there is always room for improvement. Seatbelts are the first line of defense against major personal injuries when a person is involved in a car accident. A person who is safely buckled in is less likely to be smashed against the windshield or against the interior of the car, thereby making it less likely that he or she will sustain serious or life-threatening personal injuries.
The data also finds that drivers are much less likely to wear seatbelts compared to front seat passengers, with a rate of 92.3% for front seat passengers and just 88% for drivers. SUV drivers also have the highest rates of seat belt usage with more than 92% choosing to buckle in while driving. The data confirms that women are much more likely to buckle in with a rate of 92%, compared to males with a rate of 88%. The 16- to -24 age category is the least likely to wear seatbelts with usage rates hovering at just 82% for this age group.
The researchers also assert that while seatbelt usage rates are high in Georgia, there has been very little change in the rates of distracted driving across the state. There are far too many motorists still using hand-held cell phones while driving to have conversations or to send or receive text messages, in spite of the fact that both of these activities are prohibited under the law. There is plenty of room for improvement when it comes to combating distracted driving across Georgia. It is very helpful that Georgia is supporting research into these important subjects.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm, and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income and other forms of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.