Seat Belt Safety and the "Driving Dead"

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Motorcycle Accidents

The Illinois seat belt law just turned 30 years old. Lawmakers say the law is working, with 95 percent of the state’s motorists buckling up. Now it is a matter of convincing those other 5 percent to do the same.

Statistics show that the average person who does not use a seat belt is typically a male who is in their twenties. With that age group in mind, the Illinois Department of Transportation has implemented a new program, “Driving Dead” to convince these young drivers to buckle those seat belts. The program is based on the popular television series, “The Walking Dead” and even has one of its lead actors, Michael Rooker, involved in the campaign.

"Driving Dead" is more than just the average public service campaign. Instead, it is an actual web series which can be watched online. According to its IMDB description, the series is set in a post-apocalyptic Illinois, where “tough guys” survive by fighting against zombies, using weapons and a tank-like machine. But they always remember to buckle their seat belts.

The project hits home with Rooker, who lost his brother in a fatal car crash. His brother was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the car, which then rolled over on top of him, killing him.

According to state statistics, there were just under 900 people killed in fatal motor vehicle accidents in Illinois last year. In one-fourth of those accidents, victims wither were not wearing seat belts, or were using them incorrectly, greatly reducing their chances of survival.

Another way to enforce just how wearing a seat belt can save your life in an accident is the Illinois State Police rollover simulator. Two crash dummies – an adult and a child – are place in the cab of a pick-up truck, without seat belts. The truck is rotated, simulating a rollover accident. Both crash dummies are ejected in the test. The test is then repeated, only this time, the crash dummies are wearing seat belts. When the truck is rotated, both remain safely inside the truck, providing a dramatic visual of just how much seat belts can save your life. The State Police offers demonstrations of the simulator for schools and other groups.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact an experienced Lake County injury attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the other driver for your pain and loss.