# Seat Belt Safety Statistics

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-safety-statistics/587929>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 5, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-safety-statistics/587929 "2011-07-05T19:48:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-safety-statistics/587929/1 "2011-07-05T19:48:08Z")

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My google-fu has failed me, after trying various iterations of the words “safety belt statistics” and related words.

What I’m trying to find is a comparison of automobile fatalities wherein:

1. The use of the safety belt was a mitigating factor in the victim’s death (eg, he was trapped in a submerged vehicle; he was trapped in a burning vehicle, etc).

2. The use of a safety belt saved his life; he would have died if he hadn’t been wearing his safety belt.

3. The safety belt made no difference; he would have died with or without it.

I ask because Mrs. Homie has a fried who refuses to wear her seatbelt because a) She doesn’t want to be trapped in a burning/sinking car; b) if the accident is bad enough she’s going to die anyway.

Obviously her logic is flawed, but I’d like to be able to back up my arguement.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-safety-statistics/587929/2 "2011-07-05T20:16:46Z")

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> [@HeyHomie](#):
>
> … if the accident is bad enough she’s going to die anyway.

Tell her she can expect to die in a collision where she’s only going 25 mph. And if she doesn’t die, she probably will have irreversible brain damage and a burden to her family for a while. Also, in a civil suit she could be hit with negligence. Is that a legacy she wants to leaver her family?

Just sayin’.

Does this help? —\> [http://www.nhtsa.gov/Driving+Safety/Occupant+Protection](http://www.nhtsa.gov/Driving+Safety/Occupant+Protection)

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-safety-statistics/587929/3 "2011-07-05T23:19:20Z")

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> [@HeyHomie](#):
>
> …
> 
> 1. The use of the safety belt was a mitigating factor in the victim’s death (eg, he was trapped in a submerged vehicle; he was trapped in a burning vehicle, etc).  
> …

“Mitigating” means reducing or counteracting. I think you want “contributing” there if you’re asking about situations where the safety belt made the accidental injuries worse, not better.

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-safety-statistics/587929/4 "2011-07-05T23:32:34Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> “Mitigating” means reducing or counteracting. I think you want “contributing” there if you’re asking about situations where the safety belt made the accidental injuries worse, not better.

Point taken. :smack: