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Kansas adult seatbelt rate shows slight increase, but child seatbelt usage declines

Aug. 23, 2005 ( 05-180)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chris Bortz, KDOT Bureau of Traffic Safety, (785) 296-3756

Kansas adult seatbelt rate shows slight increase, but child seatbelt usage declines

There is both good news and reason for concern following the Kansas Department of Transportation’s latest seatbelt survey. Adult seatbelt usage is up one percent to 69 percent for adults, but the seatbelt usage for children has dropped two percent to a 59 percent usage rate.

“Even though the increase is small, it’s encouraging more adult drivers are using seatbelts,” said KDOT Secretary of Transportation Deb Miller. “This is a step in the right direction. However, I’m dismayed by the fact that fewer adults are buckling up their children. It is not acceptable that seatbelt usage in Kansas has declined for children ages 0-14.”

Kansas, along with NHTSA, has adopted and implemented an aggressive national campaign statewide to encourage safety belt use and lower Kansas traffic fatalities. More than $300,000 was invested in statewide Click it or Ticket advertising contributing to enforcement efforts made by police departments, sheriff offices and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

“ The purpose of our Click it or Ticket campaign is to create public awareness that law enforcement is tough on those not wearing seat belts or using child restraints,” Miller said.

Each year KDOT conducts surveys around the state to estimate the percentage of Kansans who are buckling up. Based on federal guidelines the surveys are conducted at nearly 900 sites in 20 randomly selected counties which encompass 85 percent of the population. The child surveys are conducted in March, April and May and the adult surveys are conducted in June and July. The following shows the seatbelt rate for each county surveyed compared to the state.