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Seatbelt use falls to 77 percent in Idaho

Idaho's seat belt use fell more than three percent during the past three years - dropping from a high of nearly 80 percent in 2006, to 78.5 percent in 2007, and to 76.9 percent this year, according to a recent survey by the Idaho Transportation Department.

For the second consecutive year, seat belt use by occupants declined in all types of vehicles, including passenger cars, SUVs/vans and pickup trucks.

"So far this year, 68 unrestrained people have been killed in Idaho traffic crashes, and the majority of them were ejected from vehicles designed to protect them in a crash," said Mary Hunter, highway safety manager.

ITD and the state's public health districts conducted Idaho's official 2008 seat belt usage survey in June, immediately following the statewide and national "Click It or Ticket" seat belt education and enforcement campaign.

More revealing of Idaho's seat belt use problem is that 65 percent of the occupants killed in Idaho traffic crashes during 2007 - 114 people - were not wearing seat belts. "Had they only buckled up, it is possible at least 57 of these people would be alive today," Hunter said.

Furthermore, 85 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in drunk driving crashes were not properly restrained.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of all the safety features added to vehicles since 1960, seat belts account for more than half of the lives saved. Buckling up remains the single best defense against death or injury in the event of a crash.

Idaho is not eligible to receive federal incentive grant funds to address this issue because its seat belt and child passenger safety laws do not meet minimum federal grant standards, Hunter said.

In addition to those killed, 402 unbelted Idahoans were critically injured in 2007 traffic crashes. "At least half of these injuries could have been prevented with a simple click of a seat belt," Hunter said. "As seat belt use declines, costs to all Idahoans continue to increase."

"The Idaho state budget pays an estimated $9 million in health care costs every year for traffic crash injuries which would have been prevented by seat belt use," said Dr. Beth Ebel, director of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center in Seattle. "Idaho taxpayers subsidize those individuals who choose not to wear their seat belts despite the state law. In addition, Idaho passed up $4.5 million in national highway funding for failing to strengthen enforcement of seat belt laws."

Ebel and her colleagues analyzed crash rates and seat belt use in Idaho, and estimated the medical cost of providing emergency and trauma care for belted and unbelted crash occupants.

Every Idahoan -- not the person involved in the traffic crash -- pays 85 percent of the medical bills associated with car crashes through insurance premiums, county, state and federal taxes, and increased charges for medical services, according to a NHTSA report titled, "The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2000."

Idaho regional information
Usage rates across the state are reported below by region:

North Idaho, including Coeur d'Alene, decreased from 87 percent to 82 percent use.
North-central Idaho, including Lewiston, increased from 82 percent to 85 percent.
The highest usage rate was recorded in southwest Idaho, including Boise and surrounding communities, up slightly from 87 percent last year to 88 percent this year.
South-central Idaho, including Twin Falls, increased from 69 percent to 72 percent.
Southeast Idaho, including Pocatello, increased slightly from 62 percent last year to 63 percent.
The region with the lowest seat belt use is eastern Idaho, including Idaho Falls, where belt use declined for the third straight year to slightly less than 60 percent this year. In 2005, belt use in this area was 68 percent.

Regional comparison
Idaho ranks nearly last in seat belt use rate compared to other states in the region. The information below shows the seat belt use rate in Idaho and its neighboring states and shows also that Idaho's law is the weakest with a $10 fine per violation.

State	2008 Belt Use Rate	Law Status	Fine
Washington	96%	Standard	$124
Oregon	96%	Standard	$97 plus local costs
Nevada	92% (2007)	Secondary	$67
Utah	87% (2007)	Secondary	$45
Montana	79%	Secondary	$20
Idaho	77%	Secondary	$10
Wyoming	69%	Secondary	$25 (driver), $10 (passenger)