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Show Utalms obey speed laws ignore seat belts I Utahns are faring well with the 65 mph speed limit but need to improve im-prove highway safety through increased in-creased seat belt usage. The Utah Department of Public Safety put the state's safety record up against that of 22 other states recently surveyed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Adminis-tration. While those states experienced experi-enced a 50 percent increase in 65 mph highway deaths, Utah had no increase in the number of people who died and actually experienced a decline in the total number of fatal fat-al deaths. "We are pleased with the cooperation we're getting from Utah drivers," said John T. Nielsen, commissioner of UDPS. "As long as drivers remain consistent consis-tent in their adherence to the 65 mph limit, we don't expect to have the problems that other states are experiencing." Nielsen credited a portion of the success to a traffic safety program called "Arrive Alive." "As a part of the program, the Utah Highway Patrol has been diligent in stressing driver education and the need for driver cooperation in order to make 65 (mph) work," he said. "Enforcement has been a part, but only a part of the process." When comparing the State's seat belt statistics, Utahns are on par with the rest of the nation. But Utah Highway Safety officials feel there is need for improvement, and in this area enforcement is critical. In a letter to all of the state's sheriffs and chiefs of police, Nielsen stressed the importance of a public perception that seat belt and child restraint laws are being enforced. He noted that other states with laws similar to those in Utah have increased usage rates "if enforcement is consistently included in-cluded in normal traffic operations." opera-tions." The letter listed results from the latest Utah seat belt surveys: Salt Lake City (October, 1987) 40 percent usage rate; Ogden City (September, 1987) 31 percent usage; Orem City (November, 1987) 33 percent usage; St. George (October, 1987) 17 percent per-cent usage; freeways statewide (October, 1987) 45 percent usage. Utah Highway Safety officials explained an apparent conflict between be-tween these numbers and those re- leased in a recent report by the University of North Carolina, Research Re-search Center. The Center ranked Utah with a 22 percent usage rate, the lowest of 32 states surveyed. According to Richard K. Howard, Ho-ward, program manager, when responding re-sponding to the survey Utah averaged aver-aged the usage rates over the entire state. Both urban and rural roads were included while other states sent in figures from urban areas only. As the Utah numbers indicate, indi-cate, urban usage levels are usually higher. Commissioner Nielsen said that even though Utah is in line with the national average, 60 to 70 percent J of Utahns do not use seat belts. ; And according to an August 1987 : survey, only 24 percent of Utah; children under age five are proper-! ly restrained. "There is no doubt that res-r traints are effective in reducing, deaths and injuries for law enforce-: ment officers as well as Utah", citizens," Nielsen said. "With the' support of the state's police and; sheriff departments I expect belt ; use in Utah to significantly in-; crease during the next few; months." |