Seat Belt Usage DOWN in Tennessee

Aug 06, 2015 at 01:47 pm by bryan


The Governor's Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol have announced a decrease in seat belt use. The new statewide rate has been finalized at 86.2 percent for the month of June. This percentage represents a decrease from the previous usage rate of 87.7 percent.

Governor's Highway Safety Office Director Kendell Poole said the decrease represents tens of thousands of Tennesseans not wearing a seat belt this year.

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Earlier this year, Gov. Haslam signed a bill that will increase Tennessee's seat belt fine beginning in January 2016. The fine will increase from $10 to $25 for first offenders and from $25 to $50 for subsequent offenses.

As of August 3rd, preliminary statistics indicate 519 people have died on Tennessee roadways, a decrease of 35 compared to this time last year. To date, 47.9 percent of the state's fatalities have been unrestrained motorists.

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