Record increase in seat belt use reported

By Julie Vallese
CNN Consumer Safety Editor

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The combination of law enforcement visibility and paid advertising led to a record boost in seat belt use in the Southeast, according to a report released Tuesday.

The report by the Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign said the "Click It or Ticket" program, used for the first time in multiple states leading up to this year's Memorial Day weekend, was responsible for a nine percent increase in seat belt use in a three week period.

"The results of this eight state regional program over just three weeks prove conclusively that high visibility enforcement is the most effective tool we have to increase seat belt use and save lives," said National Safety Council president Alan McMillan. "We are encouraging every state to use the federal funds it receives for seat belt programs to implement the 'Click It or Ticket' model."

The "Click It or Ticket" program uses paid advertising to warn communities that law enforcement will be out in force looking for violators of seat belt laws. The group's research shows motorists believe the risk of receiving a ticket is a better reason for buckling up than the risk of injury or death if in a car crash.

The campaign spent more than $3.7 million of public and private funds for this year's mobilization effort. The funds were used in advertising, publicity and research to measure the program's impact. This year's program included 25,000 checkpoints across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

"It's time to get smart and spend these precious resources only on those programs proven to increase belt use, and that means quality enforcement of strong laws using the 'Click It or Ticket' model," said Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign Executive Director Chuck Hurley.

Tennessee experienced the biggest rise in seat belt use going from 53 percent to 73 percent. North Carolina belt use went up the least with a gain of just four percent. But that increase is enough to bring them to the fourth highest use in the country at 84 percent.

Californians rank first in belt use at 89 percent, followed by Maryland and New Mexico. The national average for belt use is about 71 percent.