The seat belt is often overlooked these days, as most of us are accustomed to using them, but even insurance companies still remind us that using your belt is the best way to survive a car accident. It appears that in South Carolina, at least, that advice is being heeded.
The Insurance Journal reported this morning that a study conducted by the University of South Carolina last month found that more than 85 percent of both passengers and drivers were using their seat belts – a four percent improvement over the last such survey results of 81%. The university based it’s study on traffic counts and observations in sixteen South Carolina counties.
The Public Safety Department, represented by Director Mark Keel said that the survey results prove that state troopers are successfully relaying the message that seat belts save lives.
State officials also said that roughly 400 people who were not using their seat belts died on the state’s roads last year.