Transportation Department

BOISE - Seat belt use among Idahoans reached an average of 76 percent as compared to 74 percent last year, the Idaho Transportation Department announced. Nationwide, the average use rate is 80 percent.

There is progress being made through education and enforcement; however, Idaho is still losing too many lives and incurring too many costs due to people not buckling up, says Mary Hunter, ITD Office of Traffic and Highway Safety (OTHS). Last year, 106 people who werent buckled up died in traffic crashes, and 446 people were critically injured most of these tragedies could have been avoided if they had worn seat belts.

Idahos official seat belt usage survey was conducted in June by OTHS following an extensive statewide education and enforcement campaign. It found that nearly 80 percent of Idahoans use seat belts in passenger cars, 82 percent buckle up in vans and sport utility vehicles, while just 63 percent buckle up in pickup trucks.

The figures reflect an increase in these categories over last years survey, which was conducted in June 2004. At that time, there also was a two percent rise (from 72 to 74) in seat belt use.

Usage rates across the state varied. The highest was recorded in southwest Idaho, including Boise and surrounding communities, at 85 percent (up from 82 percent). The lowest usage was in southeast Idaho, including Pocatello, at 55 percent (down from 57 percent). Rates in other regions of the state are:

• North Idaho, including Coeur dAlene: 76 percent (unchanged from last year)
• North-central Idaho, including Lewiston: 81 percent (up significantly from 75 percent)
• South-central Idaho, including Twin Falls: 72 percent (up dramatically from 60 percent)
• Eastern Idaho, including Idaho Falls: 68 percent (up from 66 percent)

Idaho law requires everyone in a vehicle to wear safety restraints. Between May 16 and June 5, law enforcement agencies statewide issued 10,437 seat belt citations and 230 child restraint citations in an effort to get people to buckle up. During the campaign, officers also made 422 drunk driving arrests and 578 drug arrests. Paid advertising announced the Click It, Dont Risk It! enforcement efforts.

The seat belt is a free piece of safety equipment. Of all the safety features added to vehicles since 1960, one the seat belt accounts for more than half of all lives saved, Hunter adds.

On average, five Idahoans are killed or seriously injured every day in traffic crashes. In 2004, 54 percent of the 196 motor vehicle occupants who died in Idaho traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts.

In the event of a crash, seat belts reduce the risk of fatalities and serious injuries to people in passenger cars by 50 percent and by 65 percent for occupants of pickup trucks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

NHTSA research shows that society pays for 85 percent of all medical costs for crash victims, not the individuals involved. When crash victims are hospitalized, the medical costs for unbelted victims are 55 percent higher than for those who wear seat belts.
These statistics are grim reminders that seat belts save lives, Hunter says. Buckling up remains your single-best defense against death or injury in the event of a crash.