Fewer Missourians Buckling Up

Fewer motorists are buckling up when driving on Missouri’s roads. This year’s seatbelt usage rate has dropped to 75 percent, down from 77 percent a year ago. Nationwide, 82 percent of drivers and passengers buckle up. Jackie Rogers with the State Transportation Department attributes the drop to a lack of knowledge by the motoring public of the importance of wearing a safety belt. Rogers acknowledges the lack of a primary seatbelt law might also be hurting the usage numbers.