SEAT BELTS WORK

Maine prides itself when it is at the top of national rankings and typically frets and forms task forces when it is at the bottom. Here’s a ranking that deserves more than a little fretting and a lot of action: Maine is third worst in the nation when it comes to seat-belt use. Statewide, only 59 percent of drivers and passengers wore seat belts in 2002, far below the national average of 79 percent.

Maine law since 1991 has required anyone 18 or younger to wear a seat belt. In November 1995, a referendum was narrowly passed extending the seat-belt law to everyone, making Maine the 49th state to have a seat-belt law. Like 37 other states, Maine has what is known as a secondary law, meaning that officers cannot usually stop a motorist for not wearing a seat belt but can cite them for a violation of the law if they are stopped for another traffic offense. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $62.

Since the referendum vote, Maine has made progress. In 1995, Maine had the lowest buckle -up rate in the country at 35 percent. The national average at that time was 66 percent. There is still a long way to go to save lives, reduce injuries and to save money.

As part of a national effort to encourage seat-belt use, state and local police will until June 6 step up their efforts to educate motorists about Maine’s seat belt law. Radio ads, paid for by the federal government, will do the same. This is a helpful reminder, but by now everyone should know that wearing a seat belt is the right thing to do. Research has found that lap/shoulder belts can reduce the risk of fatal injury by up to 65 percent, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The administration also found that in fatal crashes in 1995, only 2 percent of restrained passenger car occupants were ejected, compared to 25 percent of unrestrained occupants. Three-quarters of the occupants who are ejected from passenger cars are killed.

Car accidents kill about 200 Maine residents each year. Of the 1,510 people who died in passenger vehicles in Maine since 1994, 836 were not using a seat belt, according to the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

A study of 371 motor-vehicle trauma patients at Eastern Maine Medical Center between January 1991 and July 1994 produced a striking statistic on the financial side of serious injury: The average hospital charges for unbelted patients were $9,515 higher than for those wearing belts. That translates into higher medical and insurance costs for everyone.

As the national campaign says, there should be no excuses. Seat belts should be worn because they work.