From UK's web site, I found the following posting and link relating to use of seatbelts and resultant and potential savings of $$ and lives of secondary vs. primary enforcements. click on heading for entire posting. Actual link to study is at end.
Report on Impact of a State Primary Seat Belt Law [from UK's Web Site]
The report projects that a primary seatbelt law in Kentucky would result in 60 fewer traffic deaths per year, 1,400 fewer injuries.
Despite efforts in Kentucky to increase seat belt usage over the last decade, our state still trails nearly every other state in the percentage of motorists who buckle up. Consider that:• Kentucky ranks 47th in the nation in seat belt usage. While the nation’s average rate of seat belt usage is 82%, only 67% of Kentuckians buckle up.• Of the 931 Kentuckians who died in motor vehicle accidents in 2003, two thirds were not restrained by seat belts. The state’s death rate in 2003 was 2 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled compared to a national rate of 1.5.18, 20
• Traffic fatalities increased from 791in 1994, the year Kentucky passed a secondary seat belt law, to 964 in 2004.The secondary seat belt law allows police officers to charge motorists for failing to
wear a restraint only if the motorist is stopped for another reason.[ . . . ]We project that a primary seat belt law would result in 62 fewer fatalities per year, 388 fewer incapacitating spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, and 1,051 fewer non-incapacitating injuries from accidents involving passenger vehicles and light trucks. Thus,• Kentucky’s Medicaid budget would save a minimum of $40.9 million over 10 years, including $2.2 million the first year and $585,000 per year for long-term medical care.
• Overall, Kentucky would save $116 million in economic costs (wage loss, medical and administrative costs, property damage and employer costs).
• Overall, Kentucky would save $324 million in comprehensive costs (lost life years and productivity).
click here for actual PDF report from Kentucky Institute of Medicine.
Have NOT had a chance to read this in detail. Anyone willing to comment or post a summary? Please email us. thanks.
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