NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Less people in the state are wearing seat belts, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol announced Tuesday.
A University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research survey determined the statewide rate in June was 86.2 percent, down from 87.7 percent previously.
Though only a slight decrease in percentage, “the decrease represents tens of thousands of Tennesseans not wearing a seat belt this year compared to last,” GHSO Director Kendell Poole said.
Poole said decreases in use were especially common among vans and passenger cars, but pickup trucks remained the vehicle type whose drivers and passengers used seat belts the least.
THP has issued 58,494 citations for seat belt violations so far this year, THP Col. Tracy Trott said.
This number should go down next year; earlier this year, Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill to increase seat belt fines starting in January. The fine will go up from $10 to $15 for first-time offenders, and subsequent offenders will see an increase from $25 to $50.
“Aggressive seat belt enforcement is always a priority for our department,” Trott said. “We know that seat belts save lives, and we are hopeful that the fine increase will help change behavior across the state.”
Despite the drop in seat belt usage, roadway deaths are actually down this year. As of Monday, 519 people have died on roads in the state so far this year, compared to 554 at that time last year. About half of roadway deaths have been of motorists who didn’t use their seat belt.