Stats show seat belt enforcement saved Illinois lives    

Preliminary total shows 113 fewer people killed in 2004

[JAN. 10, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Timothy W. Martin and Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent announced Sunday that preliminary figures indicate 113 fewer people were killed in traffic crashes in 2004 than in 2003. The governor, Martin and Trent cite the state's primary seat belt enforcement law as one of the main reasons for the reduction in highway fatalities.

"We know there are likely other factors that may have saved lives on Illinois roadways, but we also know that more than 100 people are walking around today in part because of the primary seat belt enforcement law," Blagojevich said.

"Because of the governor's commitment to traffic safety, our preliminary numbers are showing a reduction in the number of people being killed in traffic crashes by about 8 percent," Martin said.

The governor signed the primary seat belt enforcement law in July of 2003. Since that time seat belt usage has increased by 7 percent in Illinois. During the Department of Transportation's annual seat belt survey in June of 2003, 76 percent of motorists were wearing seat belts. One year later, after the enactment of the primary seat belt legislation, 83 percent of motorists were wearing their seat belts.

In 2003, 1,454 people were killed on Illinois highways. A final report will not be available until a later date, but based upon preliminary information, that number has decreased to 1,341 for the year 2004. If the numbers hold true, this would be the lowest number of traffic fatalities in Illinois since 1943, when 1,328 people were killed in traffic crashes.

An Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act amendment that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2004, also leads to safer Illinois roadways. This law makes it the driver's responsibility to properly secure any child under the age of 8 in an appropriate child restraint system. Previously, the law was directed at children under the age of 4. It also provides that every driver must ensure that passengers between the age of 8 and 16 are properly secured.

"Buckling up, every trip, every time, is the simplest thing you can do to save your life or a loved one's in a traffic crash," Trent said. "Education is an important component to get people to buckle up, but unfortunately, some folks just don't get it. That's why we need enforcement and the ability to pull someone over for not wearing their seat belt. We will continue to aggressively enforce the seat belt statutes."

[News release from the governor's office]