Highway Safety Experts, Utah Highway Patrol Target Seat belt Misconceptions

The misconceptions over seat belt use may be contributing to fatal crashes of drivers and passengers who were not wearing seat belts. Highway safety experts at the Utah Department of Public Safety, along with Utah Highway Patrol troopers have conducted surveys and found that last year, more young men who were involved in fatal crashes were not wearing their seat belts. More than half of them lived in rural areas and drove trucks. Officials also learned that other groups who are not wearing seat belts in vehicles are those who are not used to owning or driving vehicles, including the homeless and recent immigrants. Overall, most Utahns, 83%, are wearing their seat belts when driving. Now highway safety experts are working to everyone on the importance of buckling up. Half of unbuckled fatalities in Utah could've been avoided had drivers and passengers used their seat belts or restrained children in car seats properly, according to Utah Highway Safety Office and Utah Highway Patrol.