A recently released study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Michigan State University shows only 92% of Michigan drivers are regularly wearing seatbelts. This is 0.4% lower than last year, with a range of 92.4%-94.5% in the last decade.
A release from the Michigan State Police said that each point increase means there are 10 fewer accident deaths annually and that this year's results are the lowest seatbelt use rate since 2004.
Michigan peaked in seatbelt use back in 2009, with 97.9% of all drivers buckling up. At that point in time, we were the highest number in the nation for seatbelt rates.
Katie Bower is with the state's Office of Highway Safety Planning. She told WCMU that there are many reasons that we're seeing a decline.
"Some people claim they're uncomfortable. Some say they're just going down the road a short distance," Bower said. "They already feel safe in their car so they don't feel like the seatbelt gives them any extra protection."
Michigan is a Primary Seatbelt Law state, which allows law enforcement to stop individuals they observe to not be wearing their seatbelts.
