Survey: Missouri teen seat belt use increases
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 | 6:55 a.m. CDT;
updated 6:46 p.m. CDT, Wednesday, September 1, 2010
BY
The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY — Roughly two-thirds of Missouri's teen drivers wear their seat belts, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The department said Tuesday that a survey showed that teen seat belt use increased from 61 percent last year to 66 percent this year. Overall, 76 percent of Missouri motorists and passengers wear seat belts.
Missouri transportation officials are holding a contest at the state's high schools to increase seat belt usage. The competition involves two surprise checks to measure how many students are wearing seat belts. Schools also can submit a 30-second video to encourage peers to wear seat belts.
Winners can get cash and prizes. The competition runs Oct. 4 through Nov. 19.
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Comments
The increase is positive, but 66% isn't nearly good enough! Why Americans (not just teenagers) aren't using seat belts (actually, they're "restraint systems," which combine lap AND shoulder restraint) at something like 98-100% is a mystery.
Air bags are not designed or intended to substitute for seat belt restraint systems. In an accident (collision) I'm aware of the legaly intoxicated driver wasn't wearing her seat belt. The airbags deployed, but the driver was found lying crosswise completely on the floor ahead of the two front seats. Estimated speed at the point of collision was 50 mph. The other driver, wearing seat belt restraint, walked away from the collision with a few bruises. Both vehicles were totalled.