South Carolina Department of Public Safety

 

STATE’S SEAT BELT USAGE RATE SETS RECORD

Survey finds 85.4 percent of motorists in South Carolina are buckling up

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

July 2, 2010

 

Contact: Sid Gaulden, 803-896-8409; Beverly Harris, 803-896-9958

 

COLUMBIA – South Carolina is buckling up at a record rate.

 

A newly released survey by the University of South Carolina shows a nearly 4 percentage point increase in 2010 compared to 2009 in the number of motorists wearing safety belts. The 85.4 percent usage rate is the highest in state history, following the previous record set last year of 81.5 percent.

 

This is the first time South Carolina topped the national rate. The safety belt usage rate for the nation was 84 percent in 2009.

 

Officials at the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) cite enforcement and public education efforts for the record 85.4 percent usage rate. SCDPS commissioned the June survey after the Memorial Day Buckle Up, South Carolina.  It’s the law and it’s enforced. (BUSC) safety belt enforcement and education campaign.

 

“The record-breaking usage rate indicates that more people are getting our message about the law and the life-saving potential of buckling up,” said Mark Keel, Director of SCDPS. “In addition, the high usage rate speaks to the work that is done each day by the state’s law enforcement community and the educational efforts of safety advocates.”

 

The survey was based on traffic counts conducted in June in 16 counties and focused on drivers and passengers who used shoulder style safety belts.

 

“I’m pleased with our progress,” Keel said. “But, unfortunately, some people still refuse to wear a safety belt or neglect to put children in appropriate restraints, such as infant seats or booster seats. We still have work to do.”

 

Raising the safety belt usage rate each year remains a major goal of SCDPS. Preliminary 2009 statistics show nearly 400 traffic fatality victims had access to safety belts that were not used.

 

To gauge the usage of safety belts in South Carolina, SCDPS’ Office of Highway Safety commissioned the observational surveys by USC’s Department of Statistics. The survey found that all major demographic categories had usage rates greater than 80 percent:

 

• Women continue to be more likely than men to use safety belts, 90.6 percent to 82.3 percent.
• Rural occupants are less likely to use safety belts than urban occupants, 80.5 percent to 87.4 percent.
• White occupants had a higher rate of use than other motorists, 88.5 percent to 80.6 percent.
• Car occupants were more likely to wear safety belts than truck occupants, 86.6 percent to 81.7 percent.

 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. When worn correctly, safety belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans.

 

During a crash, being buckled up helps keep occupants secure inside their vehicles; whereas being completely thrown out of a vehicle is almost always deadly. Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers.

 

In a motor vehicle crash, an unbelted occupant actually suffers three crashes:

 

• Vehicle collision: Vehicle slams into another vehicle or fixed object (guard rail, tree, etc.)
• Human collision: Body slams into other occupants, pets and/or interior of vehicle, or is thrown out of the vehicle through one of the windows
• Internal collision: Internal body parts slam against each other and/or the body’s skeletal structure causing internal bleeding

 

BUSC is a statewide safety belt enforcement and public information campaign coordinated by SCDPS in conjunction with national and regional enforcement efforts. The goals are an increase in safety belt usage, a decrease in traffic fatalities and serious injuries and greater awareness about the role safety belts have in keeping motorists safe.

 

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, Office of Highway Safety, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services and Office of Justice Programs. The agency’s mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.

 

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BH/36/10