February 8, 2002

Washington, D.C. — The State of Connecticut has been awarded funds to expand efforts to encourage people in the state to wear seat belts, Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman announced today. The $410,906 grant, part of a national program administered by the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, provides resources for advertising campaigns to remind the public and inform new drivers about the importance of seat belts. The grant will also help evaluate the effectiveness of seat belt enforcement programs.

"By making seat belts second nature, we are putting traffic safety – and our future – first," Dodd said. "Just like looking both ways before crossing the street, buckling up is a simple, common-sense way to prevent needless injury, expense, and loss of life on the road."

"Studies show that wearing a seatbelt greatly reduces fatal car injuries, yet too many Connecticut residents still don't buckle up," Lieberman said. "This grant will help Connecticut get the message across and remind the public that this simple step saves lives."

Studies have shown that wearing a seat belt is the single most effective way to prevent serious injury or death in a car crash, the leading cause of death for young Americans. Over 40,000 people die and more than three million are injured in car accidents each year, resulting in over $150 billion in medical expenses, property damage, and lost productivity. While buckling up reduces the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent, nearly 30 percent of Americans fail to use seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, raising the rate of seat belt usage to 90 percent would prevent more than 5,500 deaths and 132,000 injuries nationwide, and save about $8.8 billion each year.

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