NHTSA: Minimum restraint & drinking laws save lives

An estimated 18,583 lives were saved in 2008 because people used seat belts, wore helmets and took other safety precautions prior to a motor vehicle crash, a new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows.

In the report (.pdf file), researchers at NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis estimated:

• 13,250 lives were saved by seat belts.
• 2,546 lives were saved by front air bags.
• 1,829 lives were saved by motorcycle helmets.
• 714 lives (ages 18-20) were saved by age-21 drinking laws.
• 244 lives (ages 4 and younger) were saved by child restraints such as child safety seats and lap/shoulder belts.

Researchers said an additional 4,152 lives would have been saved if unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants 5 and older had worn seat belts, and an additional 823 motorcyclists would have been saved had they worn a helmet.

This information was compiled by the National Safety Council