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AAA Michigan Applauds Legislation Approving Standard Enforcement Of Safety Belt Use

29 October 1997

AAA Michigan Applauds Legislation Approving Standard Enforcement Of Safety Belt Use

    DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 29 -- The lives of an estimated 100
Michigan motorists may soon be saved annually under a safety belt measure
approved by the state House of Representatives yesterday (October 28).
    House Bill 4280, sponsored by Rep. Frank Fitzgerald (R-Grand Ledge), will
provide standard enforcement for Michigan's safety belt law.
    "AAA Michigan applauds Rep. Fitzgerald and the members of the House for
their efforts to save motorists' lives," said Larry Givens, AAA Michigan Vice
President Corporate Relations.  "HB 4280 gives state and local police the
ability to properly enforce Michigan's mandatory safety belt law."
    Under the measure:
    -- Police can make a traffic stop solely to enforce the safety belt law.
Currently, it is enforceable only as a secondary offense.
    -- Adults would be required to wear a safety belt in the front seat,
passenger- and driver-side.
    Research suggests that occupants in crashes are 10 times more likely to be
killed if not wearing restraints.  Research also shows that air bags are not
as effective if used without seat belts.
    According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
(UMTRI), 70.1 percent of motorists statewide are currently using safety belts.
Of the 1,261 Michigan vehicle occupants who lost their lives in 1996, 547 were
unbelted.  The safety belt coalition noted that standard enforcement could
save up to 100 lives and prevent 3,000 serious injuries each year, saving an
estimated $170 million in unnecessary expenses.

SOURCE  AAA Michigan