INTRO -- Seat belt usage in the state is at an all-time high. George Olsen has more.
A press release from the Governor’s Office says 90.6 percent of drivers and passengers were buckled up according to an annual seat belt survey conducted in June. It’s the first time usage was above 90 percent. Governor’s Highway Safety Program Director Don Nail pointed out a public awareness campaign to get more passengers to use their seat belt as one reason for the usage record. The survey noted a big jump in passenger seatbelt usage, up 4.8 percent to 89.7 percent. Seat belt usage also rose for drivers ages 16-to-24… up to 89.3 percent from 85.5 percent a year earlier. Data for the annual survey was derived by trained spotters observing drivers and passengers at 120 locations in fifteen counties throughout the month of June. I’m George Olsen.