Backseat Passengers 3 Times More Likely to Die Without Seat Belt

Passengers riding in a car's rear seat are three times more likely to die if they are not wearing a seat belt, CBS News reports.

The network news attributed the information to federal crash statistics.

"Even if you're in the back seat, the laws of physics are not suspended," said Jessica Jermakian of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). "You still need to buckle up in order to get the best protection in a crash."

And the seat belt protection also helps others in the car, according to CBS News. Tests show a backseat crash dummy without a seatbelt being thrown into the driver, who is crushed into the steering wheel.

Adults are required to wear seat belts while riding in the front of a vehicle in every state but New Hampshire, CBS News reported. However, 21 states do not have the same requirements for adults seated in the rear, it said.

IIHS research revealed that 91 percent of adults say they wear seat belts in the front of car, while only 72 percent say they wear them in the back. Only 57 percent of passengers put on seat belts in hired vehicles.

According to USA Today, the growing popularity of services like Uber and Lyft, plus taxis, gives the issue added importance.

• More People Use Seat Belts but Not Enough
• Study: Most Drivers, Not Just Young, Are Taking Risks