Posted on: Friday, September 17, 2004

Hawai'i leads nation in seat belt use

Associated Press

SEATTLE — Seat belt use among American motorists continues to rise, with a record 80 percent of people nationwide buckling up in 2004 — led by Hawai'i residents, who strapped themselves in at a rate of 95.1 percent, federal officials said yesterday.

The nationwide rate increased by 1 percentage point from 2003, according to the survey conducted in June.

"It's no coincidence that because eight out of 10 Americans are wearing their safety belts, we have also achieved the lowest traffic fatality rate on our nation's highways since record-keeping began," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said.

Hawai'i was tops in the nation in buckling up, followed by Washington with 94.2 percent. Last year, Washington was tops in the nation with 94.8 percent.

The 2004 survey found that belt use was highest in the western United States, at 84 percent, and the South, at 80 percent. Although there was slight improvement from last year, usage remained lowest in the Northeast, at 76 percent, and in the Midwest, at 77 percent.