Rear seat belt use plummets on highways, increasing fatality risk

The critical importance of wearing seat belts, even in rear seats, is being underscored by a worrying decline in usage on South Korean highways. Recent data reveals a significant drop of 8.3 percentage points in rear seat belt compliance, raising concerns about potential increases in traffic fatalities.

Tragic incidents highlight the deadly consequences of neglecting this basic safety measure. In one recent accident on the Namhae Expressway, two individuals were ejected from a vehicle after it skidded and hit a guardrail. Neither was wearing a seat belt, resulting in one fatality and severe injuries for the other.

Statistics paint a stark picture: in the first half of this year, 28.4% of highway fatalities occurred among individuals not wearing seat belts. Over the past three years, this figure stood at 19.0%. The data indicates that individuals not wearing seat belts are 3.7 times more likely to die in a crash, often due to being thrown from the vehicle or sustaining severe internal injuries.

In response to the declining rear seat belt usage, police are strengthening enforcement efforts. The Korea Expressway Corporation is emphasizing the need for all occupants, regardless of seating position, to buckle up. The campaign aims to reverse the trend and prevent further preventable deaths on the nation's highways.