Interpretation ID: aiam4381
U.S. House of Representatives
2404 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington
DC 20515-0912;
Dear Mr. Nelson: Thank you for your letter on behalf of your constituent, Mr. Glen Gourley, who questions the effectiveness of safety belts and opposes the safety belt use law enacted by the State of Florida.; During the past decade, 470,000 persons have died on American highways Each year, an estimated 300,000 are injured seriously enough to require hospital treatment. These traffic deaths and injuries have resulted in an annual cost to society of approximately 57 billion dollars resulting from such costs as emergency medical services, long-term medical care and rehabilitation, worker's compensation, welfare payments, and lost tax revenue.; Numerous analyses have shown that safety belts reduce fatalities b 40-50 percent and reduce serious injuries by 45-55 percent. I have enclosed copies of a safety belt fact sheet and several pamphlets we have published explaining how and why safety belts are so effective. Because of the extensive body of evidence about the effectiveness of safety belts, the United States Supreme Court has said, 'We start with the accepted ground that, if used, seatbelts unquestionably would save many thousands of lives and would prevent tens of thousands of crippling injuries.'; In an effort to protect their citizens by substantially reducin vehicle-related deaths and injuries, and to reduce the financial burden on their taxpayers, 29 States and the District of Columbia have enacted safety belt use laws. I have also enclosed an occupant protection fact sheet. This sheet reports that among front seat occupants, safety belts saved about 2,200 lives in 1986, and 1750 of those lives were saved in States that have safety belt use laws.; I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions on this subject, please let me know. Sincerely, Erika Z. Jones, Chief Counsel