South Carolina Seat Belt Usage Rate Sets Record

Columbia, SC – According to a release from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), approximately four out of five motorists in South Carolina wear their safety belts, the highest recorded usage rate in state history, according to a recent survey by the University of South Carolina.

Officials at the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) credit enforcement and public education efforts with the record 81.5 percent usage rate, the first time the rate has climbed higher than the 80 percent mark. SCDPS commissioned the June survey following the Memorial Day Buckle Up, South Carolina (BUSC) safety belt campaign.

“This is good news for South Carolina. The more people wear safety belts, the more lives are saved,” said Mark Keel, Director of SCDPS. “This record-setting rate is the result of hard work on behalf of the state’s law enforcement community and public education efforts by safety advocates and the media to get the word out about safety belts and their life-saving potential.”

The survey released this month was based on traffic counts conducted in 16 counties and focused on drivers and passengers who used shoulder style safety belts in June 2009. South Carolina’s rate falls slightly below the national rate of 83 percent.

“Safety belts are the best defense against drunk drivers, speeders and others who drive recklessly on the road,” Keel said. “But some people still are not getting the message that wearing a safety belt can save a life and it’s the law. While we are pleased with this year’s results, we know there is still much work to do.”

Raising the safety belt usage rate each year remains a major goal of SCDPS. In 2009, the state eclipsed the previous record mark of 79 percent set last year. In spite of the increase in belt usage, 2008 statistics show more than 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 2009 survey found:

• Women continue to be more likely than men to use safety belts, 87.8 percent to 77.1 percent.
• Passengers are marginally more likely than drivers to use safety belts, 82.1 percent to 81.3 percent.
• Rural occupants are less likely to use safety belts than urban occupants, 79.5 percent to 82.3 percent.
• White occupants had a higher rate of use than other motorists, 84.7 percent to 74.1 percent.
• Car occupants were more likely to wear safety belts than truck occupants, 84.3 percent to 75 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.

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 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 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.