President Clinton's Memorandum on Seat Belt Use

01/27/97

The White House released the following memorandum from President Clinton last week:

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

SUBJECT: Increasing Seatbelt Use Nationwide

We have made steady progress in improving highway safety over the
years.  However, there are still far too many tragic and unnecessary
deaths and injuries on the Nation's roads. As a first line of defense,
we must all wear seatbelts.  Seatbelts protect passengers not only in
frontal crashes, but also in side, rear, and rollover crashes, saving
about 10,000 lives a year. I understand that about 70 percent of the
population use seatbelts. Increasing seatbelt use will clearly save
more lives and reduce injuries. I hereby direct you, working with the
Congress, the States, and other concerned Americans, including the
automobile and insurance industries, and safety and consumer groups,
to report back to me in 45 days with a plan to increase the use of
seatbelts nationwide. The plan shall address, among other things, the
State laws that require the use of seatbelts, assistance from the
Department of Transportation to improve those State laws, and a
comprehensive education campaign on behalf of the public and private
sector to help the public understand the need to wear seatbelts. You
are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
Register.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON