Its use rate has continued to increase, reaching 87 percent in 1996. Standard enforcement laws also can save dollars. Belted crash victims average 60 to 80 percent lower hospital costs than unbelted victims. There also is public support for these laws. A 1991 nationwide phone survey found that 73 percent of the population would support standard enforcement legislation if they knew that it would result in more belt use and lives being saved.
Surveys show that law enforcement officers consistently prefer standard laws.
Further, a secondary enforcement law is a major deterrent to issuing citations. The experience in North Carolina offers a model that you may wish to consider. In a co-operative effort led by Governor Jim Hunt, and involving State and Federal government, the insurance industry, and law enforcement, North Carolina has increased its safety belt use and reduced fatalities, injuries and economic costs from highway crashes. Because of the program, the rate has jumped to 81 percent, one of the highest rates in the nation. The results have been impressive.