OFFICIALS URGE SEAT-BELT USAGE; BOYD SAYS HE SEES MANY NOT IN RESTRAINTS

Nearly 90 percent of motorists support seat-belt usage, but only 68 percent in Cape Girardeau actually buckle up.

Law enforcement officials, those in the medical profession and traffic safety promoters hope to see that number reach at least 70 percent by the end of the year.

"Actually, we're striving for 100 percent," said Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard Boyd following a press conference Wednesday.

As the Labor Day holiday approaches, the press conference was scheduled to reminded motorists about the importance of wearing seat belts and using child-restraint seats.

"Labor Day is a weekend when a lot of people are injured and killed in traffic accidents," said police Sgt. Carl Kinnison. "Fifty percent of those deaths and many of the injuries could be prevented simply by wearing a seat belt."

The chief said he's sure most motorists believe in wearing seat belts, but buckling up just hasn't become a habit with them yet.

"When I'm stopped at traffic lights, I see people all the time look at me and then sneak over and put their seat belt on," Boyd said.

"After a while it becomes like wearing your watch: If you don't have it on, something seems wrong," he said. "I cannot move my car 10 feet without putting it on."

Boyd said children seem to have gotten the message already. "In the next couple generations I believe the problem will be solved."

Dr. Jesse Ramsey, president of the Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society and a pediatrician, spoke about the tragedy that can happen when seat belts and child restraints are not used.

Last year, he said, 2,200 children were treated for injuries in automobile accidents; half died.

About 20 percent of injuries could have been prevented if the car seat was used properly, he said. Ramsey said common mistakes include not placing infants facing the rear of the car and taking a fussy baby out of the car seat, even for just a few minutes.

Children injured in automobile accidents generally fall into two categories: those who die and those who suffer severe head or brain injuries, he said.

"This is important to us as parents, but it's also important to us as taxpayers," Ramsey said. "It costs $360,000 to educate a mentally handicapped child in Missouri."

By properly using car seats, Missourians could reduce costs to taxpayers by $36 million.

"Those are significant dollars to each of us," he said.

"In the adult realm, the same holds true," Ramsey said. "About 50 percent of traffic deaths could be prevented by using seat belts."

He said the effects of air bags are greatly diminished if occupants of the vehicle are not also wearing seat belts.

Kinnison said research shows most motorists believe in the effectiveness of seat belts.

"Those who don't wear their seat belts don't perceive their risk of being involved in a crash as very great. But crashes don't happen when you think they will happen," Kinnison said.

Motorists often buckle up on long trips and on unfamiliar roads, but don't wear seat belts driving to work or to the grocery store. In fact, three out of four traffic deaths occur within 25 miles of home.

Cape Girardeau is participating in the Summertime Blues campaign designed to up seat-belt usage. As part of the campaign, Cape Girardeau police are issuing more tickets for not wearing seat belts. Enforcement seems to be an effective way of encouraging usage, Kinnison said.

The 70-percent seat-belt-use goal by 1992 is a nationwide goal. Cape Girardeau motorists seem to be closing in on that goal and are ahead of the nation; 60 percent seat-belt usage is the national average. But in Canada some provinces have achieved rates of over 90 percent.