Drunk Driving and the Lack of Seat Belt Use
Public Action Management
By Pamela S. Erickson
June 27, 2023
The June 23rd edition of the Nevada Review-Journal had two stories about DUI crash deaths and the value of seat belt and child seat restraints. One article involved four police officers from Connecticut who were on vacation in Las Vegas. No one wore a seatbelt and one of the passengers was killed when he was thrown from the vehicle. The driver pleaded guilty to driving under the influence resulting in death. Sentencing is set for November and the driver/officer will likely serve time in prison as Nevada’s laws on such things are quite strict.
In another article, a man was arrested for drunk driving and child endangerment as he had unrestrained children in the car. The man had a prior record of DUI with children unrestrained. Fortunately, no crash occurred and the children were safe. Hopefully, this driver can be taken off the road. But he has a court date in October and while ordered not to drive, that may not happen.
The federal government has two agencies concerned with traffic safety: the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to Torque News, the NTSB and NHTSA have slightly differing roles and specialties. The NHTSA establishes safety regulations for cars and light trucks that are brought to market. The NTSB is more focused on investigating the causes of accidents. They investigate car accidents, but also investigate plane and boat crashes. (Torque News specializes in car reviews and related news.)
While both functions are important, both agencies have helpful websites documenting the value of seat belts. Seat belt use is very high for all drivers. In 2022, it was 91.6% according to NHTSA. The problem is that impaired drivers are not as likely to wear their seat belt and insist that passengers do as well. According to NTHSA, “In 2021, 26,325 passenger vehicle occupants were killed. About 50% of those killed were not buckled (based on known seat belt use).”
Why does anyone drive without buckling up?
Common excuses cite the presence of air bags, sitting in the back seat, and driving a short distance at low speeds. None of these excuses are reliable. Airbags are meant to work with seat belts, not instead of them. Unrestrained passengers can be thrown through the windshield or hit another passenger even in the back seat. I once heard a presentation on crash technology. The speaker noted that in a crash where the vehicle was going 60 miles an hour, the car is stopped, but the occupants continue to move at 60 miles an hour!
Driving at slow speeds and only for a short distance can be just as deadly. According to NHTSA, “Seemingly routine trips can be deceptively dangerous. Most fatal crashes happen within 25 miles from home and at speeds of less than 40 mph.”
So, let us all join in the advocacy for seat belt and child restraint use. Obviously, there is more work to do. It is especially important for law enforcement to be out front on this issue.
Sources:
“Police officer pleads guilty to fatal Las Vegas DUI crash,” by Katelyn Newberg, Review-Journal, June 23, 2023.
“Man with prior DUI case drove drunk with children…,” Review-Journal, June 23, 2023.
NTSB and NHTSA Dispute over regulating Tesla, torquenews.com
NTSB Reiterates Call for Lap and Shoulder Seatbelts in All School Buses, The NTSB advocates for seat belts on school buses. This article illustrates the problem.)