Wearing seatbelts a maybe

by Amanda Iacone
Staff Writer

Parents might not be the only people who can tell drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts.

A new bill from the Ohio House Committee for Transportation and Public Safety would require everyone in a motor vehicle to wear his or her seatbelt. Violators of the proposed law would receive a $100 fine, said Rep. Rex Damschroder, R-Fremont, sponsor of the bill.

Current laws say that drivers, front-seat passengers, passengers weighing 40 pounds or less and passengers riding with a driver between the ages of 16 and 18 must wear their safety belts.

"I'm trying to fill in the gaps," Damschroder said.

The bill simplifies other laws on the books to cover all passengers.

Damschroder expects two amendments to the bill before it leaves the committee and goes before the House. One amendment could lower the fine to $50 per automobile, Damschroder said. Another possible change to the bill would require only drivers and passengers 18 years old and under to wear safety belts. Adults would be allowed to decide for themselves whether to buckle up.

"I do believe if children had to wear safety belts and wore them up to their 18th birthday, the habit is already set," he said.

Damschroder also said he does not think the amendments will hurt the bill. The fine still would be higher than current seatbelt fines, which range from $20 to $30, and awareness of the bill's passage would increase use, he said.

Only 65 percent of Ohio residents buckle up. If the law is passed, lawmakers estimate seatbelt use would increase to 70 percent, based on statistics from 14 other states with mandatory seatbelt laws.

Sgt. Jason Greenwood of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Ohio is third in the nation in seatbelt use. But he said he thinks a mandatory seatbelt law would help prevent injuries and fatalities from car accidents.

"I'm all for it, " Greenwood said.

An Alexander High School student who was not wearing his seatbelt went through the windshield of his car and died a few weeks ago, Greenwood said. The passenger walked away from the accident with minor injuries because he was wearing his seatbelt.

Although Greenwood supports seatbelt use, he and other officers cannot stop a vehicle simply for violation of the seatbelt law. If drivers are stopped for another reason, the ensuing officer then can issue a citation for not using a seatbelt, Damschroder said.

Buckling up can save money on insurance premiums. Some Athens insurance agencies offer discounts for cars with seatbelts. Athens Insurance Service, 48 E. Stimson Ave., offers two medical payment coverage plans for accident victims who were wearing safety belts, agent Andrew Vogt said.

The medical coverage pays about $5,000 for co-payments, deductibles and other costs not covered by normal health insurance. The amount doubles if the victim was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, Vogt said.

Vogt said he believes the seatbelt law is a good idea and that he would recommend seatbelt use to his clients. Vogt was in an accident in 1994. His car was totaled, but he said his safety belt saved his life.

"If we do pass this bill, there will be more Ohioans alive at the end of the year," Damschroder said.