Seat belt use hits high in Wisconsin, but trails US average

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin has hit an all-time high in seat belt use, but the state is still behind the national average.

Roughly 85 percent of drivers and passengers used seat belts last year in Wisconsin, Post-Crescent Media (http://post.cr/1EJyxse ) reports. That's up from 82.4 percent in 2013.

But the national average of seat belt use is 87 percent, and states neighboring Wisconsin all have rates topping 90 percent. Wisconsin ranks 35th nationally in seat belt use, according to David Pabst, director of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's bureau of safety.

Preliminary data released in January also showed Wisconsin had the fewest traffic deaths in more than seven decades last year. The state Department of Transportation said there were 491 traffic fatalities in 2014.

Officials say a higher rate of seat belt use could have saved more lives.

"The seat belt doesn't prevent a crash, but it limits the possibilities of severe injuries," said Capt. Todd Christie with the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department. "If you make the decision to not buckle up, you basically diminish the safety features built into that vehicle."

Other factors can affect the number of traffic deaths, officials say, including alcohol use among drivers. Data from alcohol-related crashes isn't available for 2014, but deaths in those accidents fell 47 percent from 2003 to 2013.

Deaths among motorcyclists also fell to 74 in 2014, the lowest number since 2001.

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Information from: Post-Crescent Media, http://www.postcrescent.com