Whether you are the driver or a passenger, wearing a seat belt is one of the safest and smartest things you can do while being in a motor vehicle. 

When worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50% and the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers is reduced by 45%, according to Drive Smart Virginia, of which Virginia Farm Bureau is a founding member.

Drive Smart Virginia also reports that death rates are more than eight times higher when a vehicle occupant is not buckled or restrained. In 60% of fatal crashes, the victim isn’t buckled.

All of those numbers add up to safety; you are safer in your car when buckled in, and so are your passengers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 22,713 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in 2024, and nearly 50% of those killed were not buckled.

A seat belt is the best defense against reckless, impaired or distracted drivers—and wearing a safety belt is the law in Virginia. State law requires that all vehicle occupants must wear their seat belts. So, next time you get into a vehicle, be sure to buckle up!