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Coalition for Roadway Safety seeks to make changes to state seat-belt lawFriday, November 28, 2008
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Supporters of changes to the Missouri safety-belt law say modifying the way it is enforced would boost seat-belt use, save lives and prevent serious injuries. Under current law, officers can only ticket those who aren't wearing their seat belt if the car is first stopped for another violation. A proposal by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety would like to see adopted in 2009 would allow officers to stop and ticket people for not wearing a seat belt. The coalition believes 90 lives would be saved and more than 1,000 serious injuries prevented annually by the measure. Between 2005 and 2007, 33 of 50 people killed in Butler County traffic accidents were not wearing their seat belt, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. This is more than twice the 12 out of 17 fatalities seen in the more populous Cape Girardeau County. It is even higher than that in St. Louis County. While Butler County has seen nearly three unbelted occupant fatalities per 10,000 people annually in the last three years, St. Louis County has had nearly three deaths annually per 150,000 residents. Rates in Wayne, Carter and Reynolds counties are slightly higher than Butler when compared by population, while Ripley County is slightly lower. Whether or not the changes succeed, Deputy Coroner Jim Akers hopes wearing a seat belt is a step residents will take on their own. Akers sees first hand the consequences of failing to wear a seat belt, both for vehicle passengers and their families. "Seat belts greatly increase the chances of survival and not only survival, but of reduced injuries," explained Akers, who was elected to become the coroner in January. "It is a smart choice. Nobody would think of just sitting an infant on the seat of a car. A football player wouldn't play the game without wearing his safety equipment. It is one of the easiest things you can do to protect your life." One common excuse people use when not wearing their seat belt is that they are only traveling a short distance, Akers said. "A lot of times they look at it as an inconvenience, but it is just as important to put seat belts on for short trips as for any trip," he cautioned. "It has been proven that most car wrecks occur within five miles of home." Locally there are both those who support and those who oppose a stronger seat belt law. For Poplar Bluff residents Bob Slack and Rosemary Doyle, there is no question this would be a positive change. "I've worn a seat belt ever since they passed the law. People are crazy not to," said Slack. Seat belts save lives, Doyle said, and anything to get more people to wear their seat belts would be good. Opponents have said state government does not need a greater involvement in convincing residents to wear safety belts, which is a decision adults should reach on their own.
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Great, another reason for CGPD not to fight "true" crime. ******* it blokes! Stop harassing people! And...I'd bet the coalition to create this bloody idea are repubs! Now who is making more laws???
The police need to be looking more for people who are driving impaired because of drugs or alcahol or those on their cellphones not paying attention to the road. These cause a lot more accidents than someone not wearing a seatbelt and harm a lot more people than just the driver.
I feel this is another attempt by the government to take away our freedoms. Whats next having to wear a helmet while walking because you might fall and get a head injury? They are already taliking about wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle in St Louis and the surrounding area.
I have seen the crash reports from the highway patrol and people still die wearing seat belts. In a rollover head trauma is the most commom cause because a seat belt will not protect your head from the roof caving in.
Do we need rollbars in cars now because of that? I understand kids having to wear them because they are not mature enough to make a decision but adults who can go buy a pack of smokes or drink until they pass out should be able to decide whether or not to wear a seat belt.
I am 6 foot 4 and I hit my head all the time on low doorways, car trunks, etc. Will the law make me wear a helmet all the time?
I worked in a local ER years ago and a man came in from an accident who was thrown from his car and he was hurt bad but survived. His passenger was wearing a seat belt and was not hurt from the crash but died due to the car catching on fire and he was not able to release his seat belt. This came from the EMS and MSHP that were on the scene.
My thoughts are when its your time its your time.
We have more pressing issues than to deal with this type of law being brought up year after year.
These are just my opinions.
the state highway patrol can stop you if you have kids in your car thats not buckled up even if you aern't doing nothing wrong i know cause i got 3 of them 3 years ago going up the intestate not doing nothing wrong
The proponents of this measure need to state their facts more clearly - I, for one, am intrigued as to how they reached their conclusion based on the statistics presented.
"...33 of 50 people killed in Butler County traffic accidents were not wearing their seat belt, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. This is more than twice the 12 out of 17 fatalities seen in the more populous Cape Girardeau County."
OK - granted there were more 'no seat belt' fatalities in Butler County. However, there were also more fatalities in general - assumably with and without seat belts. Curiously though, the ratios are about the same - 33/50 is about 12/17, or approximately 2 out of 3 fatalities were not wearing seat belts in both cases. My question is why are there so many more fatalities in general for Butler County? At least hope the proponents are comparing apples-to-apples in these numbers - that is, not including any pedestrian, ATV, or motorcycle fatalities where seat belts are not even an option.
"It is even higher than that in St. Louis County. While Butler County has seen nearly three unbelted occupant fatalities per 10,000 people annually in the last three years, St. Louis County has had nearly three deaths annually per 150,000 residents.
Ummm, suggest that 3 out of 10,000 is a higher rate than 3 out of 150,000.
If the statistics are not presently corrected, then what confidence can one have in the conclusions drawn? - "The coalition believes 90 lives would be saved and more than 1,000 serious injuries prevented annually by the measure."
Suggest that more lives might be saved if legislation were passed to require people to move from Butler County to St. Louis or Cape Girardeau Counties. :-)~
More freedom's being stripped from us Americans... Soon we shall be tormented by big government to no end. Well suffice to say I'll be working to pay seat belt violations, for I personally will not abide by this if it becomes law.
Some people just do not have enough to do ... i.e., the members of this 'coalition.' Perhaps in their quest to feel self-important, they might put some thought into the idea of our police stopping people whom they suspect are not wearing seat belts while someone a block away is running a red light or driving drunk ... fxwpt, I so admire your 'number crunching,' as well as your humorous take on it!
Just another reason to be harrased and searched!
If not for pot and alcohol and now perhaps seat belt violations the police would have very little to do.
NO MORE STUPID LAWS! I am growing tired of insurance companies and big corporations running this Country!
It should NOT be illegal if I choose not to wear a seat belt! This should be MY decision period!
I am strongly in favor of seat belt use and would be dead if I had not been wearing one in my last collision, but I do not support this measure. I agree with other posters who feel this should be an individual choice for adults.
The police need to be looking more for people who are driving impaired because of drugs or alcahol or those on their cellphones not paying attention to the road. These cause a lot more accidents than someone not wearing a seatbelt and harm a lot more people than just the driver.
-- Posted by newman90 on Fri, Nov 28, 2008, 7:51 am CDT
The coppers are the biggest violators of talking on cellphones while driving. Who are you trying to kid?
Megalomania said
“I'd bet the coalition to create this bloody idea are repubs! Now who is making more laws???”
Well I’ll have to take that bet. “The Coalition for Roadway Safety” on their homepage gives their origins.
“The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is a large group of safety advocates who banded together in 2004 to create Missouri's Blueprint for Safer Roadways. Organizations include law enforcement, educators, emergency responders, and engineers.”
They report themselves as a “bipartisan” organization but Bob Holden was the governor. Bob Holden also spoke as a keynote speaker in Arizona on a similar issue. I don’t see the Republicans standing up to stop this but this without question originated from a Democrat administration. I fault the Republican administration for letting it get so far. It is the Dems that are typically behind this kind of I know whats best for you cause I'm the gov't kind of thing.
www.sos.mo.gov/BlueBook/2007-2008/6_ExecDept/Trans.pdf
http://www.savemolives.com/documents/BlueprintforSaferRoadways.pdf
http://naghsr.org/html/meetings/annual/2008/08.sponsor.prop.pdf