Today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation indicating record nationwide seat belt use is indeed very good news. Vehicle occupant protection has been a top priority for State Highway Safety Offices so we are particularly heartened to see that the effort is succeeding.

An 80 percent national seat belt use rate—the highest in the country’s history— is a great accomplishment, but more work needs to be done. States will continue to conduct high-visibility enforcement campaigns to remind the public to buckle up. Those who do not obey the law will be ticketed. There are no excuses, and no exceptions.

GHSA continues to urge every state to enact a primary seat belt law—a proven action that will increase belt use and save lives as well as public health costs. Congress can help states pass these laws by providing large incentive grants to states to reward those that pass a primary seat belt law or who achieve significant seat belt use. Congress should also alter the federal lobbying regulations that restrict State Highway Safety Offices from advocating on behalf of safety legislation. Currently, even if a governor supports passage of a primary bill, that governor’s highway safety office cannot actively support passage of the bill.

GHSA is committed to working with our federal and local partners to increase seat belt use and to reduce needless deaths on our nation’s roadways. The Association’s Annual Meeting occurs later this month with a focus on how the nation can achieve an ambitious reduction in highway fatalities by 2008.

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The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is the nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Indian Nation. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. For more information, contact GHSA at (202) 789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org.