Laws Protecting You on the Road
Many laws at federal, state, and local levels aim to keep us safe while driving. These vehicle laws and standards, from speed limits to safety regulations, are designed to protect everyone in the event of a car accident.
For the everyday driver, these laws are simple and easy to follow. Understanding them can help prevent personal injuries.
Seatbelt Laws: Click It or Ticket
The classic phrase "Click it, or Ticket" is well-known for a reason. Buckling your seatbelt not only prevents a fine but also significantly reduces car accident deaths.
A study examining car accident deaths between 1999 and 2015 supports this common-sense conclusion. It confirms that seatbelt laws are directly related to higher seatbelt usage and lower death rates. Wearing a seatbelt is the easiest way to prevent serious injury in an accident.
How Seatbelts Protect You
Seatbelts protect you in several ways:
- Preventing Ejection: Keeping you inside the vehicle, where you are safest during a rollover.
- Distributing Force: Spreading the impact of a crash over the strongest parts of your body (hips and shoulders).
- Matching Speed: Helping your body slow down at the same rate as the vehicle, rather than impacting the dashboard abruptly.
Airbag Installation Regulations
Laws requiring seatbelt use are just one type of car safety standard. Other safety standards include manufacturing requirements for car companies. These laws mandate certain safety features, such as lights, trunk releases, tire-pressure monitors, and airbags, to be standard in all vehicles.
Airbags, in particular, have high safety standards. Some Ohio laws even differentiate between improper and proper installation of replacement bags. A properly installed airbag can be a critical factor in a car accident.
Injuries sustained from hitting a dashboard or steering wheel can be deadly, and airbags help prevent them.
Airbags Minimize Injuries
Specifically, airbags are designed to minimize:
- Head Trauma: Cushioning the impact against the steering wheel or side window.
- Chest Injuries: Preventing the driver's chest from colliding with the steering column.
- Glass Shards: Side curtain airbags can protect occupants from shattered glass.
Some of these safety standards are enforced at the federal level. They help keep us safe when we drive or purchase a new vehicle.
Understanding Speed Limits
Following the speed limit, nearly as easy as buckling a seatbelt, drastically reduces the chance of personal injury while driving. Speed limits are laws that regulate how quickly vehicles are allowed to travel on a given motorway.
"Speed limits aren't just arbitrary numbers; they are calculated assessments of risk, reaction time, and road conditions designed to save lives."
The speed limit on a road can vary depending on the type of vehicle you are driving, so it is important to be mindful of the posted limits. Speed limits are calculated and set to reduce the number of accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation states that, “speed limits should reflect the maximum reasonable and safe speed for normal conditions”.
Benefits of Following Speed Limits
By following the speed limit, we can minimize personal injury to ourselves and other drivers in the event of an accident because lower speeds result in:
- Better Reaction Time: Giving you more time to spot hazards and brake.
- Shorter Stopping Distances: Reducing the length of road needed to bring the vehicle to a halt.
- Reduced Impact Severity: The force of a crash increases exponentially with speed; even small reductions in speed can save lives.
Whether it is a law setting manufacturer safety standards or speed limits, many laws, including those mentioned above, help protect us from personal injuries before an incident occurs. Even with these protective laws, personal injuries are still likely to happen in the event of a car accident.
If you do find yourself injured after a car accident, the attorneys at McKenzie & Snyder are here to help. When you need a lifeline, call McKenzie & Snyder.
Call for a FREE consultation! (513) 737-5180
