December 10, 2003U.S. Transportation Secretary Urges Seatbelt UseNorman Mineta addresses state legislators at NCSL Fall ForumWASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta urged state legislatures on Wednesday to make the nation's highways safer by passing primary seatbelt laws. Such laws allow police to stop cars in which occupants appear to be unbuckled and ticket offenders whose only infraction is not wearing a seatbelt. In his address at the National Conference of State Legislatures' Fall Forum, Mineta said primary seatbelt laws make more drivers and passengers buckle up. And seatbelts, ultimately, he said, save lives. Twenty states currently have primary safety belt laws. Mineta called upon legislators to support this cause, and he pledged to personally help by traveling to any state in which a legislator sponsors such a bill. "As legislators," Mineta said, "you are perhaps the single most important group when it comes to saving lives on the roads. ... If you campaign to champion the primary seatbelt law in your legislature, I will be there with you." There could be incentives in addition to saved lives for states that can make more citizens wear their seatbelts, he said. Under the Bush administration's version of the federal transportation reauthorization bill, states that up their seatbelt use to 90 percent in 2004 would receive a share of $25 million in one-time grants. Some lawmakers reacted favorably to this approach. "It's important that the federal government give states flexibility," said Texas Rep. Mike Krusee, chairman of NCSL's Transportation Standing Committee. "The federal government isn't handing down a hammer and saying, 'Do this, or else.'" Mineta maintains that primary safety belt laws are the best way to make most people buckle up. But they aren't the only way. At 86.2 percent and 85.2 percent compliance respectively, Arizona and Utah, which do not have primary seatbelt laws, have higher compliance rates than many states that do. Wisconsin Rep. John Ainsworth hopes his bill on primary enforcement makes more drivers and passengers buckle up in his state. "It appears to be the single most important thing we can do," Ainsworth said. "I think it works because it causes more awareness. There are some people who say compliance increases even when you just introduce a bill." Ainsworth said his bill isn't a sure bet. "It's that 'live free or die' mentality," he said. Missouri Sen. Joan Bray understands. "There's reluctance," she said. "People don't want to be told what to do. The numbers are just so overwhelming, though." If all 50 states passed these laws, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 1,400 lives could be saved every year. NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and legislative staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. Its mission is to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures, foster interstate communication and provide the states a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system. ### | 
