Record High Seat Belt Use Lauded By Safety Leaders

Washington, DC - In response to an announcement today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta that the national seat belt use rate has increased from 80 percent in 2004 to 82 percent in 2005, Phil Haseltine, Executive Director of the National Safety Council's Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign issued the following statement:

"It's nothing short of remarkable that only eight years ago when the seat belt enforcement campaigns began, national seat belt use was at an observed rate of 61 percent. Now, 82 percent belt use means that thousands of lives have been saved on our nation's roadways.

"Seat belt use has increased significantly in recent years under the leadership of DOT Secretary Norman Mineta, former National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Jeffrey Runge, MD, and the U.S. Congress, which provided critical resources in support of the national Click It or Ticket enforcement campaigns, and encouraged states to pass primary seat belt laws. A great deal of credit goes to states for making seat belt use a priority and to law enforcement officers across the country for continuing to enforce belt use laws -- the best way to save lives and prevent needless death and injury on our roadways.

"With traffic crashes remaining a leading killer of Americans ages 3-33, we should remain focused on increasing belt use among the more hard core non- users. This two-percentage point belt use increase shows one thing for certain -- more people are getting the message: Click It or Ticket. We're getting people buckled up and saving lives."

The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign, a program of the National Safety Council, is a public/private partnership of automotive manufacturers, insurance companies, child safety seat manufacturers, government agencies, health professionals and child health and safety organizations. The goal of the Campaign is to increase the proper use of safety belts and child safety seats and to inform the public about how to maximize the lifesaving capabilities of air bags while minimizing the risks.

SOURCE: Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign