Click it or ticket for back seat passengers

SPRINGFIELD — Legislation on Gov. Pat Quinn's desk would require people in the back seat of a car to wear a seat belt — a rule that's described as Big Brotherish by some but a vital safety move by others.

Already, suburban travelers have a good record of front-seat seat belt usage, according to a study conducted last June by the Illinois Department of Transportation. It found that drivers and front-seat passengers in the counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will had a 94.2 percent seat belt usage rate — roughly 6 percent higher than Chicago.

Lawmakers last month approved the back seat requirement and sent it to Quinn. It was sponsored by the late Rep. Mark Beaubien, a Barrington Hills Republican who died Sunday of an apparent heart attack.

It would change the current law that allows people age 19 and over riding in the back seat to go without a seat belt.

Despite the high percentage of suburban travelers who use seat belts, Gurnee Police Cmdr. Jay Patrick said, the new law is welcome.

“This will make a difference, it's a good safety rule,” Patrick said. “I think there is a general feeling that because it wasn't required by law that it must be OK not to be buckled in the back seat and they feel safer back there, but that's not necessarily the case.”

Should the legislation become law, Illinois would be the 26th state to require all passengers to wear a seat belt. Illinois' neighbor states of Wisconsin, Indiana and Kentucky require all passengers to wear a seat belt. Missouri and Iowa require it only for the front seat.

Part of the reason that so many people in the suburbs use seat belts could be police departments programs, such as one used by Gurnee for high school students.

In order to enforce safety early for new drivers, Patrick said officers survey students leaving Warren Township High School and look for seat belts. If the student is not wearing one, they will get a fake fine in the mail from the department that lets them know next time it could be a ticket. They also could have parking privileges taken away by the school.

And while the trend toward smaller cars may make some adults wince at the idea of strapping in in a cramped back seat, experts say the small size is all the more reason.

“I would hope the smaller vehicle would encourage people to buckle up because you would want to be as safe as possible if you were to hit a larger car. You need to be restrained in whatever position you're in,” said Lisa Daniels, who works on another young driver education program called “Alive at 25” run by the College of Lake County.

But not all Illinoisans, or even politicians, support the legislation.

Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, said while seat belts are important and should always be worn, the government needs to know where to draw the line.

Dillard said he has seen the severe injuries that can occur when people do not wear seat belts during his time as a product liability lawyer, but adults should be free to make the decision as to whether or not wearing a seat belt in the back seat is practical.

“I encourage everyone to wear a seat belt because it does save lives,” Dillard said. “I just think we are pushing the envelope on big brother government. … Where does it stop?”

The back seat can be dangerous for passengers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 1,095 back seat passengers who did not wear a seat belt died in accidents in 2009 nationwide. There was a total of 12,432 fatalities involving unbuckled travelers in 2009.

And even though Illinois' fatality rate in car crashes is the lowest since the 1920s — there are 21 fewer fatal crashes compared to this time last year — highway officials say additional safety measures are necessary.

Josh Kauffman, spokesman for Illinois Department of Transportation, said it doesn't matter where travelers sit in the vehicle, seat belts are necessary.

“Safety is the highest priority at IDOT and our mission is to save lives across Illinois,” Kauffman said. “The primary safety belt law has proved to work and we look forward to this.”