Nearly 37 million Americans visit hospital emergency rooms each year for treatment of injuries attributed to accidents. Of these, 147,000 persons die from their injuries, making accidents the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. For persons under the age of 65, automobile accidents (accounting for nearly 29% of all injury deaths) are the number one cause of accidental deaths in the United States. In second place are falls, which occur mainly in the home; this type of accident is the leading cause of accidental death for persons over 75.

By taking adequate precautions, many deaths due to accidents could be avoided. Many deaths occurring as the result of automobile accidents, for example, could be avoided if adults and children would use safety restraints, e.g., seat belts and restraint seats; it is estimated that one half of all adult fatalities and 90% of the deaths of children under five could have...