8/2/2006
Seat belt use on the rise but still too many deaths
BOISE - Seat belt use among Idaho drivers and passengers climbed to an average of 80 percent as compared to 76 percent last year, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Although this is a significant increase, Idaho is still below the national average and ranks nearly last in seat belt use among the 10 Western states.
Despite the improvement, 126 Idahoans who were not wearing their seat belts were killed in car crashes in 2005 - up from 106 in 2004. While most Idahoans are buckling up, the remaining 20 percent who do not account for 60 percent of traffic fatalities.
In addition to those killed, 452 unbelted Idahoans were critically injured in 2005 traffic crashes. The economic impact in Idaho for motorists killed or injured due to lack of seat belt use was $575 million.
"Here's a case where a minority of Idahoans who refuse to buckle up get the majority to pay for the damage that results from their crashes," said Dave Carlson, director of public and government affairs, AAA Idaho and co-chair of the Idaho Seat Belt Coalition. "Every Idahoan, not simply the person involved in the traffic crash, picks up the tab, paying 85 percent of the medical bills associated with car crashes through insurance premiums, county, state, and federal taxes, and increased charges for medical services."
The Idaho Seat Belt Coalition was created in an effort to increase seat belt use and reduce deaths and injuries on Idaho roads. According to ITD's Office of Highway Operations and Safety, six people are either killed or seriously injured every day in Idaho traffic crashes.
In the event of a life-threatening crash, seat belts reduce the risk of people being killed in passenger cars by 45 percent and in pickup trucks by 65 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"The seat belt is a free piece of safety equipment. Of all the safety features added to vehicles since 1960, one - the safety belt - accounts for more than half of all lives saved, said Capt. Ben Wolfinger, Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and coalition co-chair. "Buckling up remains your single best defense against death or injury in the event of a crash. Idahos seat belt use rate lags behind those of its neighboring states, and we hope to see that change soon."
ITD and the state's public health districts conducted Idaho's official seat belt usage survey in June following an extensive education and enforcement campaign. The survey found that nearly 83 percent of Idahoans use seat belts in passenger cars, 84 percent buckle up in vans and SUV's, while 69 percent buckle up in pickup trucks. Usage rates across the state varied and are reported below by region of the state:
- North Idaho, including Coeur d'Alene, showed a dramatic increase to 87 percent, up from 76 percent last year.
- North-central Idaho, including Lewiston reflected an 83 percent increase, up from 81 percent last year.
- The highest usage rate was recorded in southwest Idaho, including Boise and surrounding communities, at 89 percent, up from 85 percent in 2005.
- South-central Idaho, including Twin Falls, had a drop in use to 67 percent from 72 percent last year.
- The lowest usage was found in southeast Idaho, including Pocatello, at 63 percent. This is a significant increase however from 55 percent last year.
- Eastern Idaho, including Idaho Falls, also showed a drop in use at 66 percent, down from 68 percent last year.
"Progress is being made through education and highly committed law enforcement; however, Idaho is still losing too many lives and incurring too many costs due to people not buckling up," said Mary Hunter, ITD Office of Highway Operations and Safety. "Idaho's 2005 traffic fatality rate was 26 percent higher than the U.S. rate - 1.84 per 100 million annual vehicle miles traveled, compared to 1.46, for the U.S."
Idaho law requires everyone in a vehicle to wear safety restraints no matter where they are seated. Between May 15 and June 4, law enforcement agencies statewide issued almost 6,500 seat belt citations and 130 child restraint citations in an effort to get people to buckle up.
Idaho ranks nearly last in seat belt use rate for Western states
State 2005 Belt Use Rate Law Status Fine
Washington 95% Standard $101
Nevada 94% Secondary $25 plus costs totaling $67
Arizona 94% Secondary $10 plus court costs totaling $50
Oregon 93% Standard $97 plus local costs
California 93% Standard $20 plus court costs
New Mexico 89% Standard $25
Utah 87% Secondary $45
Montana 80% Secondary $20
Idaho 76% Secondary $10
Wyoming Unknown Secondary $10 to $25