In the emergency room where Dr. Billy works, it is extremely common to see patients after a motor vehicle crash. We use the term crash rather than accident because accidents should be avoidable. Seat belt use clearly reduces the number of serious injuries but is there a safer place to sit in the car?
The passenger seat is often the preferred travel seat, with a battle raging for who gets to ride “shotgun.” This term is a reference to the days when stagecoaches would frequently get held up and an armed guard would ride alongside the driver for protection. Others refer to the passenger seat as “the death seat” and this appellation has some truth behind it.
Several studies have confirmed that sitting in the front seat of a car is more dangerous than riding in the back. Sitting in the back can reduce the risk of death in a motor vehicle crash by anywhere from 25 to 39 percent. The risk of serious injury is also reduced by about 30 percent for those sitting in the rear when compared to the front seat riders. The risk to drivers is about the same as for those who are riding shotgun.
The bottom line is that the “death seat” name is justified, it just applies to both positions up front. So take your choice, sit in back where it is safer or ride up front where you can play with the radio.
Either way, make sure to buckle up.
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"Are you more likely to die in the passenger seat in a car accident?" was posted on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at 11:07 pm.