The economic cost of motor vehicle crashes hit $230.6 billion dollars a year, an average of $820 for every person living in the United States according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The economic cost of an average roadway fatality is $977,000 and the economic costs related to a critically injured crash survivor total $1.1. million, according to the report, which is based on data from 2000 and was released in May 2002.
The evidence is overwhelming that seat belts save lives and reduce the severity of injuries. "This report makes it obvious why we must dedicate ourselves to a higher seat belt use rate," said NHTSA administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D.
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