BE SAFE, NOT SORRY

Clayton CarsonApril 4, 2014ENG 303 – Argument PieceProfessor Hunter

SEAT BELTS…WHY USE THEM?• Simply said, seat belts save lives.• Adult seat belt use is the most effective

way to save lives and reduce injuries in car crashes, yet millions of adults every year do not wear their seat belts on every trip.

NUMBERS DON’T LIESeat belts reduce serious crash-related

injuries and deaths by approximately 50%.In the year 2013, 64% of passengers ages

13 to 15 and 21 to 34 killed in traffic crashes were not using restraints.

When seat belts are used, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%.

THE BLATANT TRUTH

DON’T BE THAT PERSON- URL to “Rear Passenger Seatbelt Video”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Qhmdk4VNs

POSSIBLE RAMIFICATIONSDon’t feel like buckling up? Below are just a few consequences

that can come as a result of neglecting to wear a seat belt:

- Jail Time: It has been enforced by law in the U.S. that seat belts be worn by both the driver and each passenger ever since the year 1983. Don’t cross paths with the law: buckle up every trip.

- Injuries/Death to Driver and/or Passenger(s): It has been proven that wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of death by 45% and the risk of serious injury by 50%. Value your life and make sure to buckle up before taking off to go anywhere in your vehicle.

- The Younger Generation: When we as adults neglect to put on our seat belts every time we step foot inside a vehicle, we are setting a very negative example for young adolescents who have yet to acquire their license. Show these individuals the importance of safety and that it comes first by buckling up before traveling anywhere on four wheels.

BELTED VS. UNBELTEDThe chart below helps put things in

perspective. Numbers don’t lie: getting familiar with one’s seat belt and getting in the habit of using one is essential.

THE FACT OF THE MATTERAs drivers, we must all be responsible for

not only ourselves when we get behind the wheel, but everyone else both in our vehicle and on the road as well. Given motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among those ages 5 to 34 in the United States, we as responsible adults must get in the habit of buckling up as soon as we enter our automobile in order to help prevent ourselves from becoming a part of these statistics.

EMBRACE LIFE – ALWAYS BELT UP- URL to “Embrace Life - Always Wear Your

Seat Belt” Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-8PBx7isoM-

SOURCEShttp://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatb

elts/facts.htmlhttp://www.noys.org/seat_belt_statistics.aspxhttp://www.nsc.org/safety_road/DriverSafety/

Pages/SeatBelts.aspxhttp://www.rospa.com/about/history/seatbelt-

history.aspx