Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Safety Tip: Seat Belt Check List

As an IIHS survey underscores, some people don't bother to buckle up -- particularly when they're riding in the back seat. A simple reminder from the driver can make all occupants safer.

September 11, 2017
Safety Tip: Seat Belt Check List

 

2 min to read


“Is everyone buckled up?”

It’s a good idea for fleet drivers to make this simple question a permanent part of their pre-trip routine whenever they have passengers. Unfortunately, some adults neglect to wear safety belts on every trip, especially when they’re riding in the back seat.

Ad Loading...

Last year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a seat-belt use survey between June and August. Of the 1,172 respondents who had been a rear passenger during the previous six months, 72% said they always buckle their seat belt in the back seat. In contrast, 91% said they always use their seat belt when seated in the front. That’s a noteworthy difference.

What many drivers don’t realize is that one passenger’s decision to ditch the seat belt can have consequences for other people in the vehicle. A 2013 study from the University of Virginia found that drivers are about twice as likely to suffer fatal injuries in a crash when the left rear passenger is unrestrained compared to when that passenger is wearing a seat belt.

“In the rear seat a lap/shoulder belt is the primary means of protection in a frontal crash,” said Jessica Jermakian, an IIHS senior research engineer who served as co-author of the study. “Without it, bodies can hit hard surfaces or other people at full speed, leading to serious injuries.”

Adults 35 to 54 years old are at a greater risk for neglecting to buckle up, according to the IIHS study. A total of 66% of the adults in this group reported always using a belt in back, compared with 76% of adults 55 and older and 73% of adults 18 to 34.

Nearly 40% of people surveyed said they sometimes don’t wear a seat belt in the back seat because there’s no law requiring it.

Ad Loading...

But 75% of those who don’t always wear a seat belt in the back said they would be more likely to wear one if someone in the car reminded them to do so. Moreover, nearly two-thirds of part-time seat belt users and nonusers acknowledged that audible rear-seat reminders would make them more likely to buckle up.

In 2015, safety belts saved an estimated 13,941 lives. And if everyone buckled up, an additional 2,800 deaths could have been prevented, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

More than half of the people who die in passenger vehicle crashes in the U.S. each year are not wearing a seat belt.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Safety

Futuristic image of tractor trailer and sensors detecting a car it is approaching at dusk.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 24, 2026

Freightliner Expands Detroit Assurance Safety Features for Cascadia

Detroit Assurance with Active Break Assist 6 (ABA6) will be standard on Freightliner Cascadias built starting in December 2026 and will feature Cross Traffic Assist and Active Side Guard Assist 2 with left turn protection.

Read More →
Side view of a man in a truck cab with overlay of logo for LightMetrics.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 22, 2026

LightMetrics Introduces ΦFP AI Layer Filter for Safety Alerts

LightMetrics has launched ΦFP, a new cloud AI layer that filters every driver safety alert before it reaches a fleet manager, eliminating the false alarms.

Read More →
A group of Atwell employees gather indoors for a team photo, standing together
Safetyby Lauren FletcherApril 21, 2026

What Fleets Can Learn from Listening to Drivers

What happens when drivers help shape specs, safety, and fleet programs? Atwell’s Crystal Zile shares how feedback led to smarter fleet decisions.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Man talking in front of a blue tinted background image of a large truck with logos for Truck Chat and Work Truck and yellow headline Detroit Assurance & Upfitting.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 15, 2026

How Detroit Assurance Adapts to Unique Upfits

Mike Young, of Daimler Truck North America, will walk us through how Detroit Assurance safety systems can adapt to work around upfits that could block the radar or cameras.

Read More →
Pavement background with double yellow lines and large text that says Recall, April, and Work Truck logo.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 9, 2026

Recalls You Need to Know About in April 2026

If you have Altec, Braun, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Hino, Mack Trucks, Mitsubishi Fuso, Orange EV, Terex, Toyota, or Volvo Trucks vehicles in your fleet, you should check these important recalls issued by the National Highway Safety Administration.

Read More →
Computer screenshot showing two graphics and an image of a man.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 8, 2026

Samsara Launches New AI Coaching Features to Transform Fleet Safety at Scale

Now, drivers have holistic coverage provided by Samsara Coach before, during, and after their shift. This includes start-of-the-day audio briefings to help predict road risk, on-the-road support through two-way audio coaching, and post-trip support through AI Avatar.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Background image of a rainy windshield and brake lights with logos for Truck Chat and Work Truck and a headline How Lytx Prepares Fleets for Severe Weather.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 8, 2026

How Lytx Prepares Fleets for Severe Weather

Let’s learn more about how Lytx uses Dynamic Risk to provide real-time alerts, coaching, and operational support for fleets facing severe weather driving conditions. Brendon Hill, senior vice president of product at Lytx, walks us through how it all works.

Read More →
Darkened background image of congested traffic with large Nauto logo in front.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 2, 2026

Nauto Available as Order Now Partner on Geotab Marketplace

Nauto's AI-powered dash cam solutions are accessible via the Geotab Marketplace, enabling fleets to easily deploy its AI-enabled safety platform directly through Geotab.

Read More →
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

Future-Proofing Fleet Tech with Modular Mounting

Technology cycles move faster than vehicle rotations. Discover how modular mounting infrastructure protects your investment and reduces fleet-wide downtime.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredMarch 30, 2026

Improving Jobsite Safety and Uptime with Advanced Driver-Assist Technology

Safer crews. Fewer incidents. Better uptime. Learn how driver-assist technology is changing the way vocational fleets operate.

Read More →