Occupant Protection

Traffic Safety

CHILD SAFETY SEATS & SEAT BELTS STATISTICS

Illinois 2005 Data

150,445 people were convicted of not wearing safety belts in Illinois. 6,400 people were convicted on not restraining their children in a moving vehicle.
Illinois' seat belt usage rate rose from 83% in 2004 to 86% in 2005.

National 2005 Data

There were 43,443 traffic fatalities.
25 states (including Illinois) and the District of Columbia have primary enforcement for seat belt violations, meaning law enforcement can stop and write citations whenever they observe violations of a state's seat belt laws. 24 states have secondary enforcement where law enforcement is permitted to write a citation only after a vehicle has been stopped for some other traffic violation.
In 2005, safety belts and child restraints are credited with saving the lives of 15,632 vehicle passengers over the age of 4.
Lap/shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%.
From 1975 through 2005, an estimated 7,896 lives were saved by the use of child restraints.
When properly used, child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54% for toddlers (1-4 years old).
There were 304 fatalities among children 4 to 7 years old. Of those 304 fatalities, an estimated 45% were unrestrained.

Illinois 2004 Data

The Child Passenger Protection Act states, as of January 1, 2004, children under the age of 8 must be secured in an approved child restraint system. Children and young people, ages 8 and up to 16 years of age must be secured in a properly adjusted safety belt in any position in the vehicle.
155,355 people were convicted of not wearing safety belts in Illinois. 7,676 people were convicted on not restraining their children in a moving vehicle.

National 2004 Data

There were 42,636 traffic fatalities.
21 states (including Illinois) and the District of Columbia have primary enforcement for seat belt violations, meaning law enforcement can stop and write citations whenever they observe violations of a state's seat belt laws. 28 states have secondary enforcement where law enforcement is permitted to write a citation only after a vehicle has been stopped for some other traffic violation.
Safety belts and child restraints are credited with saving the lives of 15,434 vehicle passengers over the age of 4.
Lap/shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%.
From 1975 through 2004, an estimated 7,472 lives were saved by the use of child restraints.
When properly used, child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54% for toddlers (1-4 years old).
There were 316 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities among children 4 to 7 years old. Of those 316 fatalities, an estimated 50% were unrestrained.

Illinois 2003 Data

The Child Passenger Protection Act states, as of January 1, 2004, children under the age of 8 must be secured in an approved child restraint system. Children and young people, ages 8 and up to 16 years of age must be secured in a properly adjusted safety belt in any position in the vehicle.
115,324 people were convicted of not wearing safety belts in Illinois. 5,771 people were convicted on not restraining their children in a moving vehicle.

National 2003 Data

There were 42,643 traffic fatalities.
21 States (including Illinois) and the District of Columbia have primary enforcement for seat belt violations, meaning law enforcement can stop and write citations whenever they observe violations of a state's seat belt laws. 28 states have secondary enforcement where law enforcement is permitted to write a citation only after a vehicle has been stopped for some other traffic violation.
Safety belts and child restraints are credited with saving the lives of 14,903 vehicle passengers over the age of 4.
Lap/shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%.
From 1975 through 2003, an estimated 7,020 lives were saved by the use of child restraints and an estimated 179,756 lives were saved by safety belts.
When properly used, child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54% for toddlers (1-4 years old).
There were 310 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities among children 4 to 7 years old. Of those 310 fatalities, an estimated 49% were totally unrestrained.

Illinois 2002 Data

The Child Passenger Protection Act states as of January 1, 2004, children under the age of 8 must be secured in an approved child restraint system. Children and young people, ages 8-16, must be secured in a properly adjusted safety belt in any position in the vehicle.
100,892 people were convicted of not wearing safety belts in Illinois. 6,506 people were convicted on not restraining their children in a moving vehicle.

National 2002 Data

There were 42,815 traffic fatalities.
Safety belts and child restraints are credited with saving the lives of 14,164 vehicle passengers over the age of 4.
Lap/shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%.
From 1975 through 2002, an estimated 6,567 lives were saved by the use of child restraints.
When properly used, child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54% for toddlers (1-4 years old).
There were 459 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities among children under 5 years of age. Of those 459 fatalities, an estimated 40% were totally unrestrained.

Illinois 2001 Data

Children under the age of 4 must be secured in an approved child restraint system. Children and young people, ages 4-16, must be secured in a safety seat or with a seat belt.
94,129 people were convicted of not wearing safety belts in Illinois. 5,735 people were convicted on not restraining their children in a moving vehicle.
There were 1,414 people killed in traffic crashes.

National 2001 Data

There were 42,116 traffic fatalities.
Safety belts and child restraints are credited with saving the lives of 12,144 vehicle passengers over the age of 4.
From 1975 through 2001, an estimated 147,246 lives were saved by safety belts.
Lap/shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%.
From 1975 through 2001, an estimated 5,085 lives were saved by the use of child restraints.
When properly used, child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers.
There were 497 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities among children under 5 years of age. Of those 497 fatalities, an estimated 49% were totally unrestrained.

Illinois 2000 Data

National 2000 Data

There were 41,821 traffic fatalities.
Safety belts and child restraints are credited with saving the lives of 11,889 vehicle passengers over the age of four during 2000.
From 1975 through 2000, an estimated 135,102 lives were saved by safety belts.
Lap/shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%.
From 1975 through 2000, an estimated 4,816 lives were saved by the use of child restraints.
When properly used, child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers.
There were 529 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities among children under five years of age. Of those 529 fatalities, an estimated 47% were totally unrestrained.