Seat-belt use best in nation
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer
Hawai'i has the highest level of seat belt use in the country, officials said yesterday.
The state became the first to register a 95 percent rate of seat- belt use, according to a visual survey conducted during the recent Click it or Ticket enforcement campaign.
"We're very proud of what we've accomplished," Transportation Director Rod Haraga said. "No other state has ever reached 95 percent before. It's very auspicious."
For John Zimmerman, strapping in is automatic.
"I always wear my seat belt, even if I'm in a taxi cab," said Zimmerman, a retired merchant mariner passing time outside the State Library yesterday. "I don't know if it's habit, concern or fear of getting a ticket, but even if it's brainwashing, it's still a good thing."
Haraga said the heavily promoted Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign undoubtedly helped push Hawai'i to the 95 percent level, up from 91.8 percent last year and an almost 15 percentage-point increase in seat belt use since 2000.
Police from four counties issued 3,169 seat-belt citations, an increase over last year, during the May 24-June 6 campaign period, said Honolulu police Sgt. Robert Lung. Violaters faced a $77 fine.
This year's compliance efforts focused on one of the largest groups of unbuckled passengers and drivers, those in pickup trucks, Lung said.
The efforts apparently paid off. Seat-belt use in trucks increased from 85.6 percent in 2003 to 92.6 percent this year, according to the annual survey conducted statewide in early June by a team from the University of Hawai'i.
"I think through our education and enforcement efforts people are finally getting the message that seat belts really do save lives," Lung said.
The survey also showed that the faster drivers go, the more they tend to buckle up. Honolulu drivers seen going below 25 mph had their seat belts on 89 percent of the time; when cars were seen going over 55 mph, drivers were buckled up more than 97 percent of the time.
Haraga said federal officials are pleased with Hawai'i's high compliance rate and are working to reward states with consistently high seat-belt use with more federal traffic safety money.
Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com
