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Virginia has a New Law
Beginning July 1st, 2025, all vehicle occupants must wear their seat belt.
Virginia Seat Belt Use and Fatality Statistics
Below are the most up-to-date figures:
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Seat Belt Usage Rate: Approximately 81.1% of Virginians (drivers and front-seat passengers) wear their seat belts, according to a 2024 statewide observational survey. The nationwide seat belt use rate was 91.2% in 2024.
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Male vs. Female Usage: Seat belt use remains lower among males in Virginia than among females. Observational studies found that women consistently wear seat belts at higher rates than men. In other words, female drivers and passengers in Virginia are more likely to buckle up, whereas males have comparatively lower seat belt use.
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Unrestrained Fatalities: A significant proportion of Virginia’s crash fatalities involve unbelted occupants. In 2024, there were 5,299 crashes involving unrestrained vehicle occupants. Those crashes claimed 335 lives and injured 1,404 people. This means more than one third of those who died in Virginia traffic crashes were unrestrained at the time of the crash.
Each of the above statistics is drawn from the most recent official data . These figures underscore the importance of seat belt use – with males lagging behind females in buckling up, and a large number of fatal crash victims being unrestrained.