NASHVILLE — If you need another reason to buckle your seat belt, the Tennessee General Assembly just gave you one.
Before going into recess last week, the group passed legislation that would up the fine for not wearing a seat belt.
For the first offense, you’ll now have to pay $25 instead of $10.
After that, you’re looking at $50 for each time you’re caught.
“Reducing the number of traffic fatalities in Tennessee is one of our department’s top priorities. Approximately half of our state’s traffic deaths are unrestrained motorists. We believe this legislation will help positively affect driver behavior and ultimately save lives in Tennessee,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.
According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, failure to use a seatbelt causes more deaths each year than any other traffic safety related behavior.
Sixty-percent of those who were killed in crashes in Tennessee were not wearing safety belts.
Even more alarming, unrestrained children are more than 4% more likely to die in a crash as opposed to restrained kids.