PATROL SURVEY CERTIFIES SEAT BELTS ARE LIFESAVERS

Seat belts could have saved 2 out of every 3 people who died in Missouri traffic accidents last year. That's the findings of a recent Missouri Highway Patrol survey that looked at the "survivability" of highway accidents.

It's an eye-opening statement, which only confirms what our local Community Traffic Safety program officials have been saying all along: Seat belts save lives.

Of the 693 fatalities investigated by the Patrol, only 132 people used a seat belt. Another 424 were unrestrained, and in 75 of the deaths, use of seat belts was unknown. In the study, troopers were asked to form an opinion as to whether occupants could have survived if they used a seat belt.

Granted, it's a subjective study. But these opinions are based on considerable investigation experience and training.

The good news is that seat belt usage is gaining favor in Cape Girardeau. After remaining at 61 percent seat belt usage for about two years, the numbers rose nearly five percent in a survey conducted this week.

The Community Traffic Safety program volunteers observed drivers at five locations in Cape Girardeau. Of the 500 vehicles surveyed, 66 percent of the drivers were using seat belts. That's a significant increase. It also puts Cape Girardeau right in step with the state and national seat belt usage averages.

The traffic safety group is well on its way to achieving its goal of 70 percent usage by the end of the year. Cape Girardeau motorists should be proud of the fact local seat belt usage is one of the highest rates in the state.

Increased awareness and stepped up enforcement are reasons for the increased usage. A safety check and awareness fair sponsored last month helped raise perceptions, and the "Buckle Up, Avoid the Summertime Blues" promotion will continue throughout the summer.

Cape Girardeau police officers also have become more aggressive in ticketing seat belt offenders. The numbers bear this out. During 1991, seat belt violations represented about 10 percent of all tickets issued, according to Cape Girardeau Police. That compares to the recent Memorial Day holiday period of May 21-26 when 20 percent of all tickets issued in Cape Girardeau were for seat belt violations. Police are doing their part to encourage local seat belt use. They feel it's one of the best things they can do to protect people from harm.

A seat belt violation remains a secondary offense, which means officers have to stop the offender because of a separate infraction.

Injuries attributed to lack of seat belt use costs all Americans. In 1990 alone, nearly $6.5 billion was spent nationwide to care for traffic crash victims with $2 billion of that coming from government sources such as Medicare and Medicaid. That same year, about 360,000 crash victims were hospitalized across the nation. The average cost of the hospital stay and follow-up care averaged $18,790. The sad part is that many of these injuries could have been averted with seat belts.

This Highway Patrol survey underscores the fact seat belt usage will significantly reduce deaths on Missouri highways. Seat belts might not always be convenient or comfortable, but they save lives.