But the national study, which came from a panel named by U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, nevertheless recommended primary seat belt laws in all states. Doctors and emergency workers say the importance of seat belts to crash survival is obvious to them. More often than not, they say, the most severely injured crash victims weren't buckled up, while people who survived or emerged unscathed were. I don't think you can underscore how important they are, especially as a preventive measure. That's probably the single most important thing you can do.
Statistics support that assessment.
A legislative study committee last month agreed to recommend primary enforcement of the seat belt law in the 2001 legislative session, which began last week. Whether or not South Carolinians accept further mandates from the state, all the laws anyone can imagine won't prevent some wrecks from occurring. In 1999, driver error was a factor in more than 85 percent of the deaths in South Carolina crashes. Some mistakes occurred before a trip, such as drivers drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Others resulted from racing to an appointment or work.