SEAT BELT USE, LOWER SPEEDS REDUCE TRAFFIC DEATHS

Illinois authorities say the number of persons killed in vehicle accidents has dropped dramatically this year and increased seat-belt use is a major reason. In Missouri, safety officials also attributed a lower highway death toll so far this year to more use of seat belts and stricter enforcement of the seat-belt law.

"As of Aug. 15, there were 109 fewer deaths compared with last year," said Terrance W. Gainer, director of the Illinois State Police at Springfield. "This is certainly good news. While there have been other variables affecting this fatality decrease, I am confident increased seat-belt use is one of the most significant factors. I also feel our seat-belt blitzes have been instrumental in encouraging more Illinois residents to buckle up."

Gainer said Safety Blitz IV, which began Aug. 23, will continue through Saturday. The blitz is part of an on-going nationwide campaign to increase seat-belt usage to 70 percent by the end of the year.

Like previous blitzes, Gainer said Blitz IV will combine education and enforcement to remind motorists to buckle up. During the first two weeks of the blitz, troopers will have the option of issuing a warning or citation for a seat-belt violation. During the final week of the blitz, Gainer said motorists who refuse to comply with the safety-belt law can expect to be ticketed. He cautioned motorists that the fine, along with court costs, could total $75.

Meanwhile, the number of vehicle accident fatalities in Missouri and in the Missouri Highway Patrol's Troop E area of Southeast Missouri has dropped from this time last year.

The patrol said as of Sept. 4, 609 people had died in vehicle accidents. That's a decrease of 33 deaths from the same period in 1991. In Troop E, 55 persons have died in vehicle accidents compared to 61 at this time last year.

Sgt. Brent Davis, newly appointed safety education officer for Troop E, said a lot of the lower death toll can be attributed to stricter enforcement and voluntary adherence to the state seat-belt law and lower speeds.

"Earlier this year we had an intensive, statewide public education and enforcement campaign on the use of seat belts," he said. "In the second quarter, (April-June) we found the number of deaths as a result of vehicle accidents went down 24 percent. We attribute that decline primarily to education and enforcement on seat-belt usage," Davis said.

Like other states, Missouri is committed to increasing the use of seat belts by the end of the year. Arvid E. West Jr., director of the Missouri Division of Highway Safety, said the current seat-belt usage rate in the state is 60 percent. "Our goal is to reach 70 percent by the end of 1992. With the cooperation of everyone we can achieve that goal," he said.

Davis said studies and statistics have proven that seat belts save lives. He said prior to approval of child-restraint and seat-belt legislation in 1984 and 1985, the state's annual death toll ranged from 1,200 to 1,500 deaths. Since 1986, the annual fatality rate has remained at around 1,000.

"If we could get everyone to use seat belts, we could cut the number of motor vehicle fatalities almost in half," Davis said. "Studies have shown the No. 1 killer in all motor vehicle accidents is being ejected from the vehicle as it overturns."

Davis said many motorists mistakenly believe death or serious injury can only occur in high-speed accidents. "Keep in mind the car manufacturers have fixed their airbags to deploy at speeds of 8 to 14 mph because fatalities can and do occur even at those low speeds," he said.