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Show Utahns seatbelt use rises slightly County Health Department of Utah County. "We will continue to encourage en-courage and promote the use of safety restraints because we know that they save lives." Lynne Nilson, Director of the Utah Department of Health's Occupant Oc-cupant Protection Program, says many feel that because they live in a small town or are only traveling a short distance, they do not need to buckle up. Nationwide, 75 percent of all fatalities occur within 25 miles of the victim's home. The latest Utah survey consists of observational data that was collected col-lected in May by Valley Research and Survey. Sites were selected to be as random as possible and were located in high traffic volume areas relative to the population within selected counties. Only 27 percent of Utahns in rural areas buckle up, according to motor vehicle safety restraints data released today by the Utah Department Depart-ment of Health. Among Utahns in urban areas, seat belt use was not that much greater. Only 35 percent in metropolitan areas buckle up. Seat belt use in Utah was slowly increased since passage of the 1986 Mandatory Safety Restraint Law, but "there is still no excuse for two-thirds two-thirds of us driving or riding in motor vehicles without restraints," says Dr. Suzanne Dandoy, Executive Execu-tive Director of the department. The survey found that statewide, 34 percent of Utahns buckle up. Last year 29 percent of all Utahns wore safety restraints. In 1986, only 18 percent buckled up. In Utah County, 37 percent were restrained. That compares with Sevier County's 17 percent who buckled up. "This is a significant public health problem," says Dr. Joseph Miner, Director of the City |