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The following is a firefighter service announcement. Seatbelt safety in passenger vehicle rollover
accidents continues to be a problematic issue among firefighters. Rollover accidents of
passenger vehicles account for two percent of all crashes, but these crashes account
for more than a third of passenger vehicle fatalities. In 2011, 21,347 passenger vehicle
occupants died in crashes of all kinds. Of those, 7,420 were from rollovers.
Rollovers are more common in SUV’s, pickups, 15 passenger vans, and other high center of
gravity type of vehicles like crew carriers. Of those killed in the rollover accidents
sixty four percent were not wearing their seat belt, of these fatalities 54 percent
were ejected from the vehicle. Seat belt use reduces the risk of fatal injury by 73 percent
for back-seat passengers. Unbelted passengers are a risk to others in the vehicle, in fact,
in an accident, the risk of injury or death to other passengers increases 40 by percent
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2011 seat belts saved the
lives of 11,949 people. Buckle up; it can save your life and likely help to save the
lives of those around you.