It seems the message to "Buckle Up" is working. New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that seat belt use has risen to a record level of 84 percent, up one percent from 2008. Each percent increase translates to an estimated 280 additional lives that will be saved. In 2008, an estimated 13,250 lives were saved by the use of safety belts.

Seat belt use has been increasing steadily since 1994 while fatalities of unrestrained passengers have steadily decreased. Studies show that states where there is a primary law enforcing seat belt use (one in which you can be pulled over solely for that offense) the rate is higher—88 percent compared with 77 percent in states with other laws.

There are also differences in seat belt use by region and vehicle type. Though unchanged for this year, the West continues to have the highest rate of use at 93 percent. However, other areas saw an increase. The Northeast rose 3 percentage points to 82 percent, 2 points in the Midwest to 82 percent, and 1 point to 82 percent in the South.

Occupants of minivans and SUVs have an 87 percent rate of use and passenger cars 86 percent compared with just 74 percent of pickup truck drivers and passengers. A possible reason for the difference may be that minivans and SUVs tend to be owned by families concerned about child safety.

The seat belt is considered the most important vehicle safety invention and we recently noted the 50th anniversary of the three-point safety belt design this summer. We’ve come a long way in getting the message out to motorists, but there is still that 16 percent that needs to jump on the bandwagon and click it.

Learn more about safety techologies in our car safety section.

—Liza Barth