States Support Primary Seat Belt Laws

                           Buckle Up America! Week
                               May 21-28, 2001

    WASHINGTON, May 21 Amidst a growing number of surveys and
state ratings on occupant protection issues, The National Association of
Governors' Highway Safety Representatives (NAGHSR) today reiterated its
support for passage of primary seat belt legislation in all states. Chair John
Moffat stated that, "Interest groups have recently rated the states or
released surveys on occupant protection.  Each have shown different results
and used different methods to obtain their rankings.  I hope that we can focus
less on comparing the states and focus more on what can be done to save lives.
The evidence shows that primary seat belt laws should be passed in every
state.  The State Highway Safety Offices are working to achieve that goal.
Complemented with educational campaigns run by these offices and enforcement
efforts, strong safety belt laws will save lives."

    Primary enforcement seat belt laws allow police to stop and ticket a
driver for not being belted. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia
have enacted these laws. The remaining 32 states have secondary laws that
allow law enforcement to ticket an unbelted driver only after the driver has
been stopped or ticketed for another offense. One state (New Hampshire) does
not have a seat belt law.

    Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows
that states with a primary law average 78 percent seat belt use while states
with a standard law average only 63 percent. Furthermore, NHTSA estimates that
if the remaining 33 states would pass primary laws 1,736 deaths and 46,025
injuries would be prevented each year.

    States that have passed primary laws continue to educate the public about
the law and its enforcement.

    States with a secondary law have taken an active role in seeking a primary
law. According to Moffat, "State Highway Safety Offices are limited in the
amount of lobbying they can do, but they can provide important information and
resources that can be the catalyst for primary legislation."

    Moffat highlighted just a few recent efforts:

    *  Delaware: Along with the Delaware Buckle Up Coalition, the Delaware
       Office of Highway Safety has provided testimony before the legislature
       on the benefits of a primary law and provided fact sheets. The office
       also coordinated a Youth Occupant Protection Summit last spring to
       gather information from students on strategies to increase seat belt
       usage among youth. The top recommendation, passage of a primary seat
       belt law, was presented by student representatives to the Governor and
       each chamber of the legislature.

    *  New Jersey:  The Division of Highway Traffic Safety provided testimony
       and fact sheets to members of the legislature who were considering a
       primary law in 2000. The legislature passed the bill and with a massive
       education effort led by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, usage
       has increased over 11 percent (from 63.3 percent in 1999 to 74.2
       percent in 2000).

    *  West Virginia: In addition to state education and enforcement efforts,
       the Governor's Highway Safety Program organized Highway Safety Day at
       the Capitol on March 19th. Members were provided statistics and
       research relating the state in comparison with national standards.

    *  South Carolina: The Office of Highway Safety has successfully used the
       Click It or Ticket campaign to encourage the use of seat belts. The
       office has also provided facts sheets and information to members of the
       legislature who have attempted to upgrade the state's secondary law.

    *  Washington: The Traffic Safety Commission drafted a primary law,
       obtained the Governor's support, found sponsors and worked for passage.
       Although the law has not passed, significant progress has been made.

    Moffat concluded, "State Highway Safety Offices know how essential seat
belt use is and will continue to make sure the public realizes the lifesaving
choice they can make by buckling up."