The NDA strongly supports proper seat belt usage. Thousands of devastating fatalities and numerous severe facial and intraoral injuries can be prevented with proper use of seat belt restraints. Traffic deaths are the leading cause of death to children in America. This is of particular concern to our organization, as young African Americans are especially at risk of dying in a car crash, and seat belt use remains lower among this group as a whole. As dentists, we are often key members of the health care team, which repairs injuries. The NDA strongly supports government agencies and other organizations in the campaign to increase seat belt usage.
Our goals are to:
• Increase the availability of safety education, training, expertise, knowledge, special skills, credible research and information about traffic safety issues
• Increase the credibility and attention focused on seat belt use among African Americans and
• Provide state agencies and legislatures with a uniform guide for structuring and enacting comprehensive seat belt laws that will include data collection, and deterrents for racial profiling and other rogue behavior by law enforcement officials.