State needs primary law for seat belts

By Kelley Lichtenegger

Enough money to buy more than 450,000 Dodge Vipers -- $40.7 billion -- has been doled out to states just this year "to fund aggressive enforcement of seat belt laws," according to Consumers' Research Magazine.

These are taxpayers' dollars that could be otherwise spent but instead are earmarked for the enforcement of a law that, in Missouri, is not even important enough to be labeled a primary law.

Because seat belt laws are only secondary laws, because they are nearly impossible to enforce and because Missouri's seat belt statistics are startling, the state government should promote seat belt laws to primary laws.

Although some oppose mandatory seat belt laws, saying they only affect the wearer and it should be a personal decision whether to buckle up, the high fatality rates caused by not wearing seat belts cause insurance rates to go up for all.

Also, some contend that seat belts take lives. However, "proper use of lap/shoulder belts reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers ... by 45 percent," says Rick Whittaker, Jackson High School resource officer. The reduction is even higher for passengers of light trucks.

People also insist that because the government does not control other aspects of a lifestyle, they should not be able to "interfere in our lives for just about any reason, at just about any time," says Eric Peters for Consumers' Research Magazine. The solution to this problem is simple: Wear a seat belt and the police cannot stop you for not wearing one.

One of the most important traffic laws is currently only a secondary law. Because of this status, a police officer cannot stop a driver merely for not wearing his seat belt. According to Whittaker, "Police have to have other reasons to stop that vehicle: speeding, failure to signal, improper lane change."

This gives people the idea that it is OK to not wear their seat belt. Although the U.S. government requires only that each state have a seat belt law, 19 states have made their laws regarding safety belts primary laws. Missouri is one of the 31 states that have secondary seat belt laws. Also, of all the traffic laws Missouri residents must follow, the seat belt law is the only secondary law.

Its status as a secondary law is just one reason that makes the seat belt law difficult law to enforce.

Even the variations of the law within the state are confusing. Drivers under 18 holding a graduated driver's license must wear seat belts along with all passengers in their vehicles, but adults are not held to the same regulations. When a police officer does happen to pull over a non-wearer, the tickets are so insignificant -- $25 to $30 -- that most people overlook them.

One of the most surprising effects of seat belts and laws regarding them can be shown in numbers. Statistics by usatoday.com released by safeandsober.org show that of the 50 states, Missouri was No. 35 in belt use rankings for 2002, far below most of the states with primary belt laws. On average, states with secondary laws had 12.5 percent lower belt usage than those with primary restrictions.

Although the seat belt laws seem minor to most, they affect all. Lawmakers should promote seat belt laws to primary status because of the startling statistics and difficulties they present. Only by writing to the leaders of our state in Jefferson City can our opinions be heard there: This law must become a primary law.

Kelley Lichtenegger is a senior at Jackson High School.