Wisconsin Seat Belt Usage Hits New High

A new survey has revealed that Wisconsinites are using their seat belts more than ever before. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol's Bureau of Transportation Safety, 79 percent (4 out of five motorists and passengers) currently use their safety belts while driving. This is a six percent increase from last year's survey numbers. Authorities believe this new trend will help reduce the number of fatal injuries sustained in car accidents in the state.

Despite this increased improvement in safety belt usage, state officials and authorities are not yet ready to celebrate these findings. While this year's numbers are the highest ever in the state, Wisconsin still lags behind its neighboring states and the national average. The current national average of seat belt use is 84 percent.

Authorities credit the improvement in seat belt use to a law passed last year that now allows police officer to ticket unbuckled drivers and passengers even without another violation being committed.

Additionally, the state's survey revealed that younger aged drivers still need to be educated on the importance of buckling up. Only 69 percent of Wisconsin Drivers age 16 to 25 use safety belts while driving. Furthermore, female drivers (80 percent) in the same age group are more likely than males (72 percent) to buckle up.

The study also showed that 71 percent of Milwaukee residents used safety belts, compared to all the other areas of the state which ranged from 76 percent to 86 percent.