Oklahoma troopers say seat belts are saving lives in state
Oklahoma’s traffic deaths are on pace to be lowest in a decade

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BY BRIAN SARGENT
Published: November 28, 2008

The number of people killed this year on Oklahoma roads is on pace to be the lowest of the decade, records from the state’s Highway Safety Office show.



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Traffic-related accidents claimed the lives of 606 people from Jan. 1 through Monday, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. In 2000, 662 people died on Oklahoma roads, the fewest so far this decade. From 2005 to 2007, traffic deaths dropped from 800 to 760, a 5 percent decrease.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Chris West credited the drop in deaths to increased seat belt use.

The seat-belt compliance rate for Oklahoma this year is a record high 84.3 percent compared to the national average of 82 percent, according to the Highway Safety Office.

Seat belt usage has climbed nearly 25 percent since 2000. A dozen years ago, the compliance rate was less than 50 percent, West said.

The child-restraint compliance rate is 85 percent, which is up nearly 11 percent since 2000.

"It’s a proven fact that seat belts save lives,” West said.

The state’s primary seat belt law became effective in November 1997, requiring front-seat passengers in most vehicles to wear seat belts. Under the previous law, motorists were cited for not wearing seat belts only if they were first cited for another offense.

The number of traffic accidents statewide shows a slight decrease as well, although numbers for 2007 and 2008 were not available. The number of accidents decreased nearly 4 percent from 2000 (78,656) to 2006 (75,408).

West urged motorists to be more cautious as winter weather approaches.

Increased efforts

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is participating this Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort), with increased enforcement against speeding and drunken driving and driving under the influence of drugs. Troopers will also be on the lookout for seat belt and child restraint law violations.

Thirteen people were killed on state roads during the 2007 Thanksgiving holiday. Ten victims were not wearing a seat belt.


 

Related Topics: Culture and Lifestyle, Crime, Transportation, Holidays, Traffic Accidents, Drunk Driving, Accidents and Disasters

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Gee, I bet the high price of gasoline earlier this year had NOTHING to do with decreased deaths on the roads this year, and this was entirely due to people being scared of getting tickets for not having seatbelts on...
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Nov 28, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I didn't realize saddles had seatbelts...
Jason, Seattle - Nov 28, 2008 at 10:46 am

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