Forty states plus the District of Columbia achieved higher safety-belt use rates in 2003 than the year before, according to a new statistical analysis released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In a recent visit to OOIDA headquarters in Grain Valley, MO, FMCSA Administrator Annette Sandberg reiterated FMCSA’s goal of reducing accidents on the nation’s highways. There were 43,000 deaths last year, and 5,000 involved truck-related crashes.
“We’re beginning to see a downward decline in truck-related crashes,” she said, while emphasizing the importance of wearing seat belts.
Meanwhile, NHTSA’s analysis said safety-belt use in the United States has reached 79 percent – the highest level in the nation’s history.
"I urge states to enact primary safety-belt use laws because they have been proved effective in convincing people to buckle up," U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said. "Saving lives is one of the Bush administration’s highest priorities, and as evidence of this, our Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 proposal more than doubles funding for safety over the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century. Safety belts are the most effective device for saving lives of motorists. Everyone should buckle up every time they ride in a motor vehicle."
Now ranking among the top five jurisdictions for safety-belt use are the state of Washington (94.8 percent use); Hawaii (91.8 percent use); California (91.2 percent use); Oregon (90.4 percent use); and Maryland (87.9 percent use).
The five states achieving the greatest gains in safety-belt use this year are Alaska, with a 13.1 percentage point gain; Arizona, with a 12.5 percentage point gain; Massachusetts, with a 10.7 percentage point gain; Indiana, with a 10.1 percentage point gain; and Idaho, with an 8.8 percentage point gain.
While many U.S. states and jurisdictions have achieved higher safety-belt use rates this year, a few others have reported statistics indicating a drop in belt use.
