One of the best ways to reduce truck insurance and other costs is to reduce injuries, and one of the best ways a trucking company can do that is to ensure that ALL drivers wear seatbelts when they are operating a vehicle. Plus, it’s the law, and failure to use a seat belt can result in fines.
Pretty simple, right?
Seat Belts Save Truckers!
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts saved over 12,000 lives in 2001. One recent study reported that 23 percent of combination truck, single-vehicle crashes involved the driver not wearing a safety belt. There is also data that suggests that not wearing a seat belt can be indicative of other risky driving behaviors.
The good news is that the majority of people in vehicles are wearing seatbelts. According to the NHTSA, 90% of people riding in vehicles were wearing seat belts in 2016. The one in ten who aren’t buckling up leave themselves more vulnerable to injuries and death if they’re in an accident. Younger males and commercial truck drivers are among the most likely NOT to wear a seat belt.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 84% of medium and heavy-duty truck and bus drivers were wearing seat belts in 2013. The rate for passengers in these commercial vehicles was even lower – 73%.
5x as Likely to Die Without Seatbelts – Need a Better Reason?
Here’s what the Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis by the University of Wisconsin found during an analysis of 13,854 crash victims found:
- Persons not wearing seat belts were 5.4 times as likely to die as those wearing belts.
- Persons not wearing seat belts were 91% more likely to be hospitalized than those wearing belts.
- Persons not wearing seat belts were 14% more likely to have EMS transport
So, you can see how not wearing a seat belt can affect your trucking insurance costs and your company’s bottom line.
Here are 4 myths about wearing a seat belt to share with your drivers:
#1 - I don’t Need to Wear a Seat Belt if Driving a Short Distance
An accident can happen anytime. If you have to make a sudden stop, or if you’re involved in an accident, your seat belt will keep you in your seat and help to prevent injury or death that can occur from being thrown from your seat into the steering wheel, dash, or windshield or even out of the car.
#2 - Passengers don’t Need to Wear a Seat Belt
According to a 2001 NHTSA report, 60% of all passengers killed in traffic accidents were not wearing a seat belt.
#3 - I’m Safer Without a Seat Belt
Many people think that it’s better to be thrown clear of the vehicle in the event of a crash. Statistics show otherwise. A person is four times more likely to be fatally injured when thrown from a vehicle.
In 2016, more than 200 truck occupants and drivers died when they were ejected from their cabs during an accident. Wearing a seatbelt can keep you from being dragged along the ground, being crushed under a vehicle, and being thrown through a windshield.
#4 - If I’m a Good Driver, I Don’t Need to Wear a Seat Belt
You may be an excellent driver, but unfortunately, not all drivers on the road are. Plus, there are sometimes factors beyond your control – bad weather, mechanical failure, or a tire blowout – that can cause you to have an accident.
If you want to keep your employees safer and reduce your insurance costs, make it clear to your employees that wearing a seat belt is a requirement, not an option!
Here’s an Easy Way to Lower Your Truck Insurance Cost!
Another way to reduce the cost of commercial vehicle insurance, including both trucks and cars, is to work with one of the independent agents at American Insuring Group.
We specialize in truck insurance and will compare the costs and features of competing insurance company policies to make sure that you’re getting the best price on reliable coverage.
Give us a call today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or contact us online.
