First, seat belts rock. I’ve seen the saving power both personally and professionally. Secondly, how in the world is it possible that 19 states have no primary seat belt laws (in which passengers are required to wear seat belts and failure to do so is punishable via a ticket) in 2011?* The CDC recently released this finding as well as 1 in 7 adults do not wear seat belts consistently.

Thanks to crash test dummies and human cadavers, research in the 1960’s and 1970’s showed seat belts had the great opportunity to save lives and reduce traumatic injuries during collisions.  Australia led the way in the first seat belt legislation. The United States acted much later, adding legislation in 1984. Studies have indeed shown the life-saving impact of the amazing seat belt.

Yet, there are apparently some that still believe otherwise and that requiring people to wear seat belts infringes upon civil liberties. I can’t help but disagree. Wholeheartedly.

Nurses have the opportunity to help change the stats, saving more lives through seat belt use advocacy.

*To be fair, the most recent state seat belt statistics are from 2008.