A bill that would make it mandatory for rear seat passengers in Oklahoma to buckle up is making its way through the state legislature. According to a KJRH news report, lawmakers in Oklahoma have proposed such a bill for the very first time. Under Oklahoma law, people over the age of 12 are not required to wear a seatbelt when they ride in the back seat of a vehicle. Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials say that more than 50 percent of all fatal car accidents in Oklahoma every year involve people who are not buckled up. The State Troopers and AAA of Oklahoma have endorsed the bill. The bill has passed out of the committee and is now on its way for a vote on the house floor.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), someone is killed in a crash every 13 minutes. Seatbelts save more than 11,000 lives each year. In the event of a car accident, the vehicle comes to a sudden stop. But the vehicle’s occupants continue to keep moving until they too are stopped – by the windshield, dashboard, or worse, the pavement, if they get ejected. Wearing a seatbelt stops your body from being thrown around inside or outside the vehicle – regardless of whether you are a front seat or rear seat passenger. A seatbelt decreases the chances you’ll get hurt in a crash by restraining you and firmly holding you in place.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an Oklahoma car accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, the experienced Oklahoma City auto accident injury attorneys at The Maples Law Firm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please contact us at 1(405) 705-5050 for a free and comprehensive case evaluation.
