NHTSA Press Release
27 May 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHTSA 22-99Wednesday, May 26, 1999 Contact: Rae Tyson
Telephone: 202-366-9550
STATEMENT BY U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SLATER
UPON MICHIGAN'S ADOPTION OF A
STANDARD ENFORCEMENT SEAT BELT BILL
This is truly a hallmark day for the state of Michigan. I commend the Michigan's elected officials in its House and Senate for passing this bill and Governor Engler for signing it into law. The passage of this bill sends a strong reminder to motorists that buckling up saves lives.
This tough seat belt law will help prevent needless deaths and injuries and help our country achieve the ambitious goals set by President Clinton for increasing seat belt use nationwide. President Clinton has challenged all states to reach 90 percent seat belt use by the year 2005. The Department's nationwide Buckle Up America Campaign continues to help achieve that goal.
Seat belts work and they are the number one safety device in the automobile, critical to surviving a crash. States with standard enforcement seat belt laws average 15 percentage points higher usage than states with secondary enforcement laws.
We expect that this new law will help save more than 100 lives each year and prevent more than 3,000 injuries at a cost savings of $250 million for the residents and businesses of Michigan.
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