The reality is that traffic crashes are devastating. We lose the equivalent of a fully loaded 737 airplane each day in this country on our highways due to traffic crashes. While America continues to wage a full-scale war against terrorism, both on our own soil and overseas, why do we continue to accept and tolerate the reality that traffic crashes claim lives everyday?

Safety belts can prevent serious injury and even death in a crash. 1,084 persons were killed and 80,576 persons injured in traffic crashes in Michigan during 2007. Of those killed, 37% were not wearing a safety belt.

The public knows they should buckle up for safety. But despite this awareness, research shows that many are not taking the steps necessary to protect themselves and their children on every ride.

Many people are under the mistaken notion that trips around home are safe, and they fail to make it a point that everyone buckles up. The truth is, most traffic crashes happen close to home - where people do the most driving.

Michigan law requires:

• All front seat passengers to be buckled up
• All passengers under age 16 to be buckled up, in all seating positions
• All children under age 8 to be in an approved child safety seat or booster seat, in all seating positions, unless 4'9" tall. 

For a look at the Effects of Standard Safety Belt Enforcement on Police Harassment: Year 2 Annual Report, Executive Summary 2002 (33 K), click here .