Seatbelt Proposal
- Details of Proposed Changes Compared to Current Law
- Utah Seat Belt Facts
- National Seat Belt Facts from saferoads.org
- Natl. Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Utah Highway Safety Office
- Drivers.Com
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
After a deadly holiday weekend on Utah highways, the State Health Department wants a new law to make sure everyone in a car wears seatbelts or other restraint. News Specialist Ed Yeates explains how the new law would be enforced.
Under the proposed amendment, an officer passing by could pull me over by simply noticing anyone in the car not using a seat belt or a restraining device.
An unrestrained child was thrown from a car travelling at a high rate of speed. An unrestrained child was also kiiled in another accident. In fact, the Utah Child Fatality Review Committee says it doesn't need any more evidence to convince lawmakers it's time to toughen the current seat belt law.
CRAIG ALLRED, UTAH STATE PUBLIC SAFETY: "THIS LAST WEEKEND WAS AN AWFUL WEEK. IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST WEEKENDS THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS ON THANKSGIVING."
While legislators did NOT favor major changes last year, State Health says highway construction this year has increased the risk.
SCOTT WILLIAMS, M.D., DEPUTY DIRECTOR, STATE HEALTH: "SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WHEN THE TRAFFIC MOVED TO THE SURFACE STREETS IS ALSO PART OF WHAT MAY CHANGE THE FEELINGS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY."
Parents who have lost children in accidents caused by inexperienced teen drivers are also pleading with lawmakers. They want a graduated driver's license, requiring more training time behind the wheel. Roylane Fairclough says an inexperienced driver killed her son.
ROYLANE FAIRCLOUGH, VICTIM'S MOTHER: "LACK OF CONCERN, LACK OF AWARENESS OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN AND IT WAS JUST TOTALLY INEXCUSABLE."
Under the amendment, all adults in a vehicle must wear a seat belt. All children younger than four must be in an approved car seat, and all others up to age 16 must have a child restraint device or wear a seat belt.
If not, police could issue citations with a hefty fine, charging drivers up to $75 for anyone under age 16 not wearing a seat belt.
The officer may also cite other occupants in the car over age 16.
Only 65 percent of Utah drivers and front-seat passengers use seat belts and that rate is dropping. In contrast, California, with its primary seatbelt law, has a 90 percent compliance rate.
