Seat Belt Use Climbs to 87.1% in Missouri

The latest figures from the Missouri Seat Belt Usage Survey show that 87.1% of residents are buckling up as compared with only 60% 20 years ago, according to a report in the Daily Star Journal.

While seat belt use is climbing in the state, it still falls short of the national average, which is 89.7%.

Conducted by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT), the survey collects data from 560 sites within 28 Missouri counties on more than 135,000 vehicle occupants, according to a report on KQ2.com.

Other noteworthy findings from the survey, according to reports, include:

• Passengers and females in cars were more often buckled up.
• Occupants of sport utility vehicles and minivans had a higher rate (86.5%) of safety belt usage.
• Pickup truck drivers and passengers had the lowest usage rate at 71%.

More than 60% of fatal crashes in Missouri in 2017 involved an unbelted passenger or driver.