A good step toward encouraging drivers to buckle upA bill that would increase the fine for driving without a seat belt is advancing through the Wyoming Legislature. If passed, Senate File 64 would increase the fine for failure to wear a seat belt from $25 to $75. While the bill still doesn't make it a primary offense to not wear a safety belt — meaning the traffic stop must be made for another reason — it's a step in the right direction.Opponents of laws mandating seat belt usage say it infringes on personal freedom. That argument simply doesn't hold water — especially since, as a secondary offense, drivers obeying other traffic laws won't be pulled over (and consequently fined) for not wearing seat belts. According to the Wyoming Seat Belt Coalition, only 68.6 percent of Wyomingites buckle up, compared to national seat belt usage of 83 percent. This is despite research that found, when used properly, seat belts dramatically reduce the risk of fatal injuries. In fact, in 2008, 53 percent of those killed on the state's highways weren't wearing their seat belts — down from 61 percent in 2007. It's also an issue of workplace safety. According to an Associated Press story, a task force created by Gov. Freudenthal last year determined “that vehicle rollovers involving unbelted drivers are a leading cause of workplace deaths.” Wyoming already sees workplace deaths at more than three times the national average. The statistics speak for themselves. Given the facts, choosing not to wear a seat belt is an irresponsible choice. There's a country song about a “$5 fine for whining.” Similarly, complainers here can consider SF 64 as a “$75 fine for reckless behavior.”

A good step toward encouraging drivers to buckle up

A bill that would increase the fine for driving without a seat belt is advancing through the Wyoming Legislature.

If passed, Senate File 64 would increase the fine for failure to wear a seat belt from $25 to $75. While the bill still doesn't make it a primary offense to not wear a safety belt — meaning the traffic stop must be made for another reason — it's a step in the right direction.

Opponents of laws mandating seat belt usage say it infringes on personal freedom. That argument simply doesn't hold water — especially since, as a secondary offense, drivers obeying other traffic laws won't be pulled over (and consequently fined) for not wearing seat belts.

According to the Wyoming Seat Belt Coalition, only 68.6 percent of Wyomingites buckle up, compared to national seat belt usage of 83 percent. This is despite research that found, when used properly, seat belts dramatically reduce the risk of fatal injuries. In fact, in 2008, 53 percent of those killed on the state's highways weren't wearing their seat belts — down from 61 percent in 2007.

It's also an issue of workplace safety. According to an Associated Press story, a task force created by Gov. Freudenthal last year determined “that vehicle rollovers involving unbelted drivers are a leading cause of workplace deaths.” Wyoming already sees workplace deaths at more than three times the national average.

The statistics speak for themselves. Given the facts, choosing not to wear a seat belt is an irresponsible choice.

There's a country song about a “$5 fine for whining.” Similarly, complainers here can consider SF 64 as a “$75 fine for reckless behavior.”