BTS | Table 2-30: Estimated Number of Lives Saved by Use of Restraints

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Table 2-30: Estimated Number of Lives Saved by Use of Restraints

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	1975	1980	1985	1990	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	Total 1975-2001
Safety belts^a	978	575	2,435	6,592	9,790	10,414	10,750	11,018	11,197	11,889	12,144	147,246
Air bags	0	0	0	37	470	686	842	1,043	1,263	1,584	1,816	8,369
Motorcycle helmets	823	871	788	602	506	490	486	500	551	631	674	18,461
Age 21 minimum legal drinking age	412	595	701	1,033	851	846	846	861	901	922	927	20,970
Child restraints	36	49	153	222	279	365	312	299	307	^R316	269	5,085
Safety seats	33	39	135	193	232	313	266	244	277	282	235	4,353
Adult safety belts^b	3	10	18	29	47	52	46	55	30	33	34	731

KEY: R = revised.

^a Represents all adults and children age 5 and older. Data are for passenger vehicles, which include cars, light trucks, vans, pickups, and utility vehicles. Excludes medium and heavy trucks.

^b Represents children age 4 and younger restrained only by adult safety belts.

NOTE

Total reflects lives saved for all years from 1975 to 2000.

SOURCES

Motorcycle helmets:

U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Fact Sheet 2001: Motorcycles (Washington, DC: 2002) DOT HS 809 473, and personal communication, Apr. 5, 2000.

Minimum drinking age:

Ibid., Traffic Safety Fact Sheet 2001: Alcohol (Washington, DC: 2002) DOT HS 809 470, and personal communication, Apr. 5, 2000.

All other restraint use:

Ibid., Traffic Safety Fact Sheet 2001: Occupant Protection (Washington, DC: 2002) DOT HS 809 474, and personal communication, Apr. 5, 2000.