Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission
Almost 98% of Washington motorists are using their seat belts! Washington state saw an improvement of 1.2% from last year’s seat belt use rate to a record 97.6% in 2010. This use rate is expected to be one of the highest in the nation.
“The increase of 1.2 percent in the past year means that one third of non-users in 2009 became seat belt users in 2010, truly an amazing accomplishment given that Washington has maintained one of the highest seat belt use rates in the nation for so many years,” said Dick Doane, Research Investigator with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Still, not everyone has gotten the message to “buckle up” as the Washington State Patrol cites about 47,000 people annually for seat belt violations.
Each year a nationwide observational seat belt survey is conducted. During the 2010 survey in Washington, observers recorded seat belt use by 94,436 vehicle drivers and passengers. It was conducted statewide on a variety of road types following research protocols established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Discussion
John Sullivan
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 9:26am PDT
Washington did this right! They enforce seat belt law with the highest tickets in the west – I think it is $100 or more. So, when I cross the bridge to Clarkston, WA you know I have my seat belt on.