A new online tool from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has shown how specific changes to seat belt laws would affect belt use and fatality rates in each state.
The seat belt law calculator uses statistical models that IIHS developed. The models are based on published research findings about the effects of different types of seat belt laws.
“This calculator will help advocates and policymakers understand the safety benefits a state can reap with simple legislative changes,” said Chuck Farmer, IIHS vice president for research.
The IIHS said if every state had optimal belt use laws, an estimated 277 lives would have been saved in 2023.
Seat belt laws vary widely throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia. While New Hampshire is alone in not requiring belt use in the front seat, it is one of 16 states that don’t require adult passengers to buckle up in the rear.
The IIHS said failure to use a seat belt remains a huge factor in road deaths and said among people 13 and older killed in crashes while riding in passenger vehicles in 2023, only 45% were confirmed to be using belts.
The organization said the state with the most to gain from seat belt law changes is New Hampshire and estimated if it enacted a belt law covering all seating positions and allowing primary enforcement, it could cut deaths of passenger-vehicle occupants 13 and older by 8.9%.
IIHS said Nebraska could see a 6.6% drop in deaths if it enacted a rear-seat belt requirement and primary enforcement for the front and back.
