Seat belts save lives. The Centers for Disease Control says their use reduces the likelihood of injury or death by about half. They weren’t available in cars until the 1950s—and even then, only as aftermarket or optional equipment. By 1964, lap belts became standard equipment; by 1973, vehicles were required to have lap and shoulder belts in the front seats. By the 1980s, every state and territory required child restraints. Now all states and territories—except New Hampshire—require some or all passengers to wear seatbelts, with varying approaches to enforcement, according to NCSL. After all these years, most states have above 90% usage rates, with Hawaii at the top 98.4%, as shown in today’s map.
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