Seat belts are known to provide protection from serious injuries or even death in the event of a car accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, using them can decrease the risk of fatal crash injuries by 45 percent.
In Illinois, it is mandatory for drivers and all passengers to wear a seat belt while in a vehicle, no matter where they are seated. Children under the age of eight must be placed in age and size appropriate child safety seats or booster seats.
The Illinois Department of Transportation reported that seat belt usage in the state was at 93.8 percent in 2017. Police ran a Click It or Ticket campaign to ensure compliance with seat belt laws. The state classifies seat belt violations as a primary offense that carries a fine and court costs.
Only individuals who meet a set of specific exceptions are not legally required to wear a seat belt. Some of these are motorcycle riders, emergency vehicle drivers and delivery drivers who do not exceed a speed of 15 mph between stops. Illinois also permits medical exemptions from seat belts with a written statement from a doctor.
Ultimately, seat belt usage serves as a common sense approach to safety on the road. For additional driving safety tips and information about what to do in case of a car accident, visit: https://briskmanandbriskman.com/practice-areas/chicago-car-truck-accident-lawyers/.