Table 2-30: Estimated Number of Lives Saved by Use of Restraints

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

	1975	1980	1985	1990	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	Total 1975-2000
Safety belts^a	978	575	2,435	6,592	9,790	10,414	10,750	11,018	11,197	11,889	135,102
Air bags	0	0	0	37	470	686	842	1,043	1,263	1,584	6,553
Motorcycle helmets	823	871	788	602	506	490	486	500	551	631	17,787
Age 21 minimum legal drinking age	412	595	701	1,033	851	846	846	861	901	922	20,043
Child restraints	36	49	153	222	279	365	312	299	307	^R316	^R4,816
Safety seats	33	39	135	193	232	313	266	244	277	282	4,118
Adult safety belts^b	3	10	18	29	47	52	46	55	30	33	697

KEY: R = revised.

^a Represents all adults and children age 5 and older. Data are for passenger vehicles, which include cars, light trucks, vans, pickups, and utility vehicles. Excludes medium and heavy trucks.

^b Represents children age 4 and younger restrained only by adult safety belts.

NOTE

Total reflects lives saved for all years from 1975 to 2000.

SOURCES

Motorcycle helmets:

U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Fact Sheet 2001: Motorcycles (Washington, DC: 2002) DOT HS 809 473, and personal communication, Apr. 5, 2000.

Minimum drinking age:

Ibid., Traffic Safety Fact Sheet 2001: Alcohol (Washington, DC: 2002) DOT HS 809 470, and personal communication, Apr. 5, 2000.

All other restraint use:

Ibid., Traffic Safety Fact Sheet 2001: Occupant Protection (Washington, DC: 2002) DOT HS 809 474, and personal communication, Apr. 5, 2000.

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Table 2-30: Estimated Number of Lives Saved by Use of Restraints

Table 2-30: Estimated Number of Lives Saved by Use of Restraints