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Workplace seat belt policies save lives and money

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of both on- and off-the-job injuries, costing employers billions of dollars annually in medical care, legal expenses, property damage and lost productivity. The average crash costs an employer $16,500. When a worker has an on-the-job crash that results in an injury, the cost to their employer is $74,000. Costs can exceed $500,000 when a fatality is involved. Off-the-job crashes are costly to employers as well.

No organization can afford to ignore a major problem that has such a serious impact on both their personnel and the company budget. Employers are in a position to foster safe driving practices that contribute directly to the bottom line.

Seat belts are the single most effective means of reducing deaths and serious injuries in traffic crashes. Adopting strict seat belt use policies and implementing incentive programs to recognize and reward seat belt users can help employers protect their most valuable investment — their employees.

Seat belts save nearly 12,000 lives and prevent 325,000 serious injuries in America each year. During a crash, anyone not wearing a seat belt will slam into the steering wheel, windshield or other parts of the interior. They may collide with other occupants or be ejected from the vehicle. Although observed safety belt use in Montana nears 80 percent, if between 87 and 94 percent of Montanans used seat belts, it is estimated that an additional 20-30 lives would be saved each year. That number increases to 75 additional lives saved if seat belt use were 100 percent.

Buckle Up Montana

Helena

 

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