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New
National Goals
America must set ambitious
seat belt and child safety seat use goals. We have an unprecedented opportunity
to save lives, prevent injuries, reduce health care and other costs, and
improve the lives of all Americans — simply by increasing proper
seat belt and child safety seat use. But to do this, we must be bold and
reach beyond "business as usual." Bold goals will require commitment
and cooperation from everyone living in the United States. America can
do it.
- Increase
national seat belt use to 85% by 2000 and 90% by 2005 (from 68%
in 1996)
- Reduce
child occupant fatalities (0-4 years) by 15% in 2000 and by 25% in 2005
(from a total of 685 in 1995)
Reaching these goals
would result in significant reductions in deaths, injuries, and their economic
costs to society. Increasing the seat belt use rate from the current 68
percent (1996) to 85 percent would prevent an estimated 4,194 fatalities
and 102,518 injuries annually. This reduction in injuries and deaths would
result in an economic savings of approximately $6.7 billion annually (1996
dollars). Increasing the seat belt use rate from the current 68 percent
to 90 percent would prevent an estimated 5,536 fatalities and 132,670 injuries
annually, and would save $8.8 billion annually. |