True or False: Seat belts save thousands of lives each year.

Seat belts are indeed recognized as one of the most effective safety features in vehicles, significantly contributing to the reduction of fatalities and serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions. Extensive research and data from leading safety organizations, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), consistently indicate that wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of death for front-seat passengers by about 45% and the risk of serious injury by 50%. This data supports the assertion that seat belts save thousands of lives each year across various demographics and geographical areas.

The effectiveness of seat belts makes them a crucial element of vehicle safety, emphasizing the importance of their use for all occupants in a vehicle, not limited to certain states or age groups.