Compelling reasons to wear your seatbelt

In response to Darron Justice’s July 25 lament regarding our state’s law enforcement community cracking down on drivers who do not wear seatbelts (“Seatbelt use: Let’s crack down on bad drivers instead”), I would like to offer this. Darron suggests that it costs too much to have officers stop and ticket drivers who are not belted. Nothing could be further from the truth. The inpatient hospital cost to treat an unbelted crash victim is at least 50 percent higher than those for belted victims. And society pays 85 percent of the costs, not the drivers involved. Americans pay $14.3 billion per year in injury related costs for people who do not wear seatbelts. The injured driver pays less than 30 percent of the total cost. The remainder is paid by the rest of us through higher automobile and health insurance taxes and through public assistance programs funded with federal and state taxes. These statistics were gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The most compelling reason to enforce the use of seatbelts has to be the number of deaths to children who are not buckled. Adults who do not wear seat belts do not ensure that their passengers, especially children, are buckled. In 2000, 56 percent of kids rode unrestrained. Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of children ages 0 to 14 in the United States. In 1999, 1,684 children died as a result of motor vehicle crashes nation wide and 248,000 were injured. This number could be dramatically reduced with increased seat belt use.

I applaud our lawmakers for making seatbelt use a priority and our law enforcement officers who stop you to save the lives of you and your children.

While Darron may have been a victim of an “injustice” by being ticketed for not wearing his seatbelt, at least he arrived home safely buckled and was able to write his coherent letter to the editor. Please buckle up.

Community Education Director

Snohomish Fire &Rescue

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

Traffic moves northbound in a new HOV lane on I-5 between Everett and Marysville on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Check state’s transportation road map from now to 2050

A state commission’s Vision 2050 plan looks to guide transportation planning across the state.

July 14, 2025: New FAA Chief
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, July 16

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Burke: Here’s a scary thought: What if Trump dies in office?

Imagine the power struggles and chaos just within the administration that would be unleashed.

Find better programs to end addiction than job training for dealers

Todd Welch’s columns are generally a source of mirth and amusement with… Continue reading

Why isn’t county’s fireworks ban being enforced?

So many of those living around us in the Meadowdale Park area… Continue reading

Comment: Can we risk putting Social Security funds in markets?

Public pension funds operate on this model. It works for Canada, too. But there are no guarantees.

Comment: Trump ignores Congress’ TikTok ban; Congress shrugs

And it’s nothing new; presidents have long taken it on themselves to enforce laws as they see fit.

2024 Presidential Election Day Symbolic Elements.
Editorial: Perkins, in strong field, best for Marysville council

The fifth-grade teacher hopes to improve outreach and participation with neighborhood meetings.

Authorities search for victims among the rubble near Blue Oak RV park after catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on Sunday, July 6, 2025. The half-mile stretch occupied by two campgrounds appears to have been one of the deadliest spots along the Guadalupe River in Central Texas during last week’s flash floods. (Jordan Vonderhaar/The New York Times)
Editorial: Tragic Texas floods can prompt reforms for FEMA

The federal agency has an important support role to play, but Congress must reassess and improve it.

2024 Presidential Election Day Symbolic Elements.
Editorial: Retain Escamilla, Binda on Lynnwood City Council

Escamilla was appointed a year ago. Binda is serving his first term.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, July 15

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

State should have given ferry contract to shipyard here

The state of Washington’s decision to award its newest ferry construction contract… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.