Only a few short decades ago, buckling up was optional for drivers and their passengers, and people were generally unaware of the serious dangers posed by riding in cars without safety belts. Today, all that has changed. Everyone uses a seatbelt, and wisely so. Those riding in the front seat can reduce their risk of fatal injuries by 45 percent and their risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent, just by buckling up. In addition, rear seat passengers riding without seatbelts increase the death rate of front seat passengers by up to 5 times.
