Idaho Transportation Department

Seat belts, when used, are the most effective safety feature ever introduced for vehicles, cutting the likelihood for fatal and serious injury crashes in half. (Traffic Safety Facts 2003, NHTSA).
In 2007, 114 Idahoans killed in car crashes were not wearing their seat belts. In addition, 402 unbelted Idahoans were critically injured in 2007 traffic crashes. (ITD 2007 Crash Report)
In 2007, the 22% of Idahoans that did not buckle up accounted for 65% of the people killed in traffic crashes. (ITD 2007 Crash Report and 2007 Observational Seat Belt Survey)
In 2007, 85% of occupants killed in DUI crashes were not buckled up. 63% of those killed in speed-related crashes were not buckled up.

Belt use has declined from 80% in 2006, to 76.9% in 2008.
Idaho is ineligible for federal seat belt grant funds that previously funded programs credited with improving Idaho's use rate from 58% (1999) to 80% (2006). Thirty-seven (37) states were utilizing these grants in 2007.

“The Idaho State budget pays an estimated $9 million in health care costs every year for traffic crash injuries which would have been prevented by seat belt use,” reports Dr. Beth Ebel, director of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center. "Idaho taxpayers subsidize those individuals who choose not to wear their seat belts despite the state law.” Ebel and colleagues analyzed crash rates and seat belt use in Idaho, and estimated the medical cost of providing emergency and trauma care for belted and unbelted crash occupants. In addition, Idaho passed up $4.5 million in national highway funding for failing to strengthen enforcement of seat belt laws.

In 2007, the economic impact to Idahoans for motorists killed or injured due to lack of seat belt use was $861 million. (ITD 2007 Crash Report)

Every Idahoan, not the person involved in the traffic crash, pays 85% of the medical bills associated with car crashes through insurance premiums, county, state, and federal taxes, and increased charges for medical services. (Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2000, NHTSA)

Page Last Modified: 1/8/2009 1:56:50 PM