D.C. Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman, both D-Conn. Seat belts save lives and funding such as this will help find new ways to bring that message home. The recent tragic death of football hero Derrick Thomas underscores the needlessly high-stakes game we play when we fail to wear our safety belts. I hope this funding helps teach our kids that buckling up can be the difference between surviving an automobile crash and losing your life.
Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among the nation s youth.
Grant funds are targeted for innovative projects such as media campaigns or law enforcement initiatives that encourage seat belt safety. According to the 1998 National Occupant Protection Use Survey, seat belt use has risen from 62 percent in 1996 to 70 percent in 1998.