NEWS RELEASE           
Office of Communications          
Phone: 410-545-0303 / 800-323-6742          
MD Relay: 1-800-735-2258           
www.marylandroads.com          
          
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          
Contact(s): Lora Rakowski, 410-545-0303; Jeremy Gunderson, 410-787-4072           
          
MARYLAND BOASTS HIGHEST SEAT BELT USE RATE ON EAST COAST          
          
(September 18, 2008) – As a technology, seat belts continue to be a motorist’s best protection against crashes. In the event of a crash, there is no better technology to aid in reducing the likelihood of a fatality or injury. For these reasons, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is proud to announce that Maryland’s statewide seat belt use rate increased to an all-time high of 93.3% in 2008, up from 93.1% in 2007. The slight increase in the rate means that roughly 2.5%, or 7,200, of Maryland drivers were converted into safety belt users during the past year.          
“I am proud of Maryland’s citizens who recognize the life-saving potential of seat belts, as evidenced by our phenomenal use rate,” said Neil J. Pedersen, Administrator of the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). “Rest assured that our efforts at SHA, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to educate the public of the importance of wearing a seat belt at all times. In fact, it’s a key part of the Choose Safety for Life campaign message. Choose Safety – buckle up.”          

Seat belt use and other data are collected annually by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as part of the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). The latest survey, conducted in June, involved daylight observations of vehicle occupant behavior at more than 1800 sites nationwide. Maryland’s seat belt usage results were obtained from observational surveys conducted at more than 100 sites throughout the State. Car drivers and front-seat passengers were observed to be buckled up at a rate of more than 94.2% and pick-up truck drivers were significantly behind at 88.3%. The rate for pick-up truck drivers fell slightly from 2007 despite a continued focus to impact that demographic with targeted media-related messaging. Local roadways and rural roads often demonstrated use rates in the mid-80s and the propensity for pick-up truck drivers to be unbuckled was dramatically higher.          
With safety as its number one priority, these efforts also contribute to the Maryland State Highway Administration’s partnership with the Choose Safety for Life campaign. This campaign provides one voice for drivers, motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and truckers. With 93 percent of traffic crashes occurring because someone made a wrong choice on Maryland roadways, virtually all traffic crash fatalities could be prevented if everyone practices these five key steps: B-SAFE – Buckle up, Slow down – speeding kills, Always drive sober, Focus, Everyone share the road. Learn more at www.choosesafetyforlife.com.           
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