Wearing seat belt may reduce half of accidental casualties

A total of 61, almost half, of the 131 casualties in accidents involving a passenger car or van were not wearing a seat belt, according to the Finnish Crash Data Institute (OTI).

Road accident investigation teams have estimated that 26 of the casualties could have survived had they been wearing a seat belt, said the National Police Board in a press release on Wednesday.

The police will conduct a nationwide monitoring operation on 16-22 September 2022 on the use of seat belts and protective helmets as well as inattentiveness in traffic.

Monitoring of inattentiveness includes the distractive use of technical devices while driving a vehicle or tram as well as the use of a handheld mobile phone by the driver of a motorised vehicle or tram while driving.

Chief Superintendent of the National Police Board Heikki Ihalainen said that wearing a seat belt also has an important role in collisions at speeds in built-up areas since a seat belt might either completely prevent injuries from occurring or significantly reduce them.

“Inattentiveness typically involves the driver using a handheld mobile phone while driving. Taking one’s eyes off the road for a few seconds because of a message is particularly dangerous. The distractive or hazardous use of other technical devices is also prohibited while driving,” said Ihalainen.