1) Safety belts are 45-60% effective in preventing injuries and fatalities in motor vehicle accidents. 2) Despite laws and statistics, seat belt usage rates remain below 75% for passenger cars and 65% for pickup trucks. 3) Common excuses for not wearing seat belts like it being a short trip or driving slowly are misguided, as most accidents occur within 25 miles of home at speeds under 40 mph, and seat belts significantly increase survival rates.

1. Construction Safety Talks
Buckle Up Some Things To Know Before You Give Your Talk.
And Live As a supervisor, you should know that safety belts are:
No. 48 • 45% effective in preventing motor vehicle fatalities and over
60% effective in light trucks
• 50% effective in preventing moderate to critical injuries
How This Talk
Applies To My • 10% effective in preventing minor injuries
Crew:
Yet, despite laws and statistics, the passenger cars' use-rate is
just over 75%, and pick-up trucks at less than 65%.
There are some often-heard reasons why people don't wear their
seat belts:
• "It's just a short trip."
More than 70% of accidents occur within 25 miles of home.
• "I don't drive fast."
Over 80% of collisions occur at speeds less than 40 mph.
• "It's safer to be thrown clear."
Thrown out, your chances of being killed are 25 times
greater than if you remain belted inside the vehicle. Three
quarters of occupants who are ejected are killed.
• "I'll be trapped and burn or drown."
Less than 1/2 of 1% of accidents involve fire or submersion
in water. Besides, your chances of getting out of a vehicle
under either circumstance is greatly increased if you are
conscious. Held in place by a belt increases your chances
of remaining conscious.
Remind your crew that sometimes it is the other driver that causes
an accident. Your drivers may have the best driving skills in the
world but they won't do you much good if they are not in the
driver's seat, behind the wheel.
© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 1

2. Safety belts help to hold you in the seat, behind the wheel, where you can use your
driving skills to control the vehicle. This can mean the difference between a minor
accident and a major one.
Wearing a safety belt must become a habit.
Try This For Show And Tell!
If your workers use company vehicles, arrange to inspect the condition of the seat belts
in them.
Questions You Can Use To Get Them Talking:
• What kinds of things can we do to remind ourselves to wear our seat belts
everyday?
• Has anyone ever had an accident - or know of one - involving someone not
wearing their seat belt?
• Who can tell us about someone whose injuries were less serious or had their life
saved by wearing a seat belt?
Attended By:
The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at
the time of publication. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards or regulations. Please refer to the
appropriate code, standard or regulation making authority for interpretation or clarification.
© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 2