Seat Belts
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Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among those aged 1-54 in the U.S.
For adults and older children (who are big enough for seat belts to fit properly), seat belt use is one of the most effective ways to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes. Yet millions do not buckle up on every trip.
State Fact Sheets and Data
Working together, we can help keep people safe on the road – every day. Encourage drivers and passengers to buckle up on every trip.
Fact sheets are available for each state and the District of Columbia and include national and state data on restraint use and occupant crash deaths, as well as an overview of proven strategies for increasing the use of seat belts, car seats, and booster seats.
Need data for your state? View and download seat belt datasets from our State Data web page.
Rural and Urban Differences
In the United States, living in rural areas is associated with higher crash-related death rates for drivers and passengers, a higher percentage of deaths among those not buckled up at the time of the crash, and lower seat belt use in adults.
Injuries and Seat Belt Use
Seat belt use has become the national norm, though rates of self-reported seat belt use vary widely from state to state, with a high of 94 percent in Oregon, and a low of 59 percent in North Dakota.
Adult Seat Belt Use
CDC Vital Signs: Adult Seat Belt Use
Buckle Up – Every Seat, Every Trip. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people age 5 – 34. Adult seat belt use is the single most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes.
- Page last reviewed: September 21, 2017
- Page last updated: September 21, 2017
- Content source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control,
- Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention