According to a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only about two thirds of Massachusetts drivers are likely to wear a seat belt. Massachusetts has the lowest percentage of seat belt use in the country despite the fact that research has proven the effectiveness of seat belts in saving lives during a car accident.
In fact, three separate Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents during this past 4th of July weekend resulted in a total of seven deaths where seat belts went unused.
Drivers and passengers give a variety of excuses, among them “I only wear one on the highway,” “it’s comfortable,” and “I don’t want to mess up my shirt.” Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced mandatory seat belt legislation in an effort to combat these attitudes.
Bay State’s scorn for seat belts unrivaled, Boston Globe, July 8, 2009
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