Online debate erupts over why many in Latvia still skip seatbelts

Latvia's Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) has reported that in 47 serious road accidents last year, 20 people died and several others suffered severe injuries because drivers or passengers had not been wearing seatbelts. A CSDD representative, Aksenoks, noted that if everyone involved in these serious crashes had used seatbelts, last year's road death toll would not have reached one hundred — yet overall, 118 people died on Latvia's roads in 2025.

Medics say the most common injuries among unbelted crash victims include traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures, spinal cord damage that can cause permanent disability, chest injuries such as rib fractures, damage to the lungs and heart, abdominal organ injuries with internal bleeding, and pelvic or limb fractures.

Social media reaction

CSDD's new awareness campaign on seatbelt use has reignited discussion online. One woman recalled that years ago, some people would only pretend to buckle up, arranging the belt to look correct for police, though she said persistent reminders eventually changed habits among people she knows.

Other commenters said the problem persists, particularly on buses, where many passengers still don't buckle up and often dismiss reminders to do so. More troubling accounts described children riding unbelted, including cases where young kids traveled without appropriate car seats or restraints.

Several commenters stressed that seatbelts exist to protect the wearer, not to satisfy police checks, with one sharing that a belt once saved her life years ago. Others recalled older tricks used to silence a car's seatbelt warning chime. Participants in the discussion concluded that, much like drink-driving, people generally know the risks — but awareness alone doesn't always change behavior.