State warns motorists of new seat belt laws

The new law will allow police to begin ticketing motorists around April 1, 2000, solely for not wearing a seat belt. Right now, police can give seat belt tickets only when a motorist is pulled over for another offense.

Michael Dabbs, president of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, said yesterday that he is a living advertisement for why the tougher law may save lives. Last winter, another driver struck Dabbs' car and sent him spinning off the highway.

His car flipped twice and stopped, leaving Dabbs hanging upside down by his seat belt. He needed only a few stitches for a cut on his hand.

"Literally, I walked to the ambulance," he said. "That's as close as I ever want to come to a brain injury."

State statistics show that half the people who died in Michigan car accidents last year weren't wearing seat belts.

Major Timothy Yungfer of the Michigan State Police said officers would be happy if they never had to write another safety belt ticket. He added that motorists shouldn't expect any leniency when the law goes into effect.

"Motorists should not expect a grace period. After all, safety belt laws are not new," Yungfer said.

The state kicked off its "Click It or Ticket" campaign yesterday to promote the new law at gas stations and auto dealers and through billboards, radio and television ads. The message is targeted at young drivers, the group that most often fails to buckle up.

"We want to help motorists avoid tickets by creating the seat belt habit now," said Betty Mercer, director of the state's Office of Highway Safety Planning. The state launched the campaign at a Shell gas station in this Eaton County community near Lansing, as well as in Detroit and Marquette.

About 70 percent of Michigan drivers already wear seat belts, said David Johnson of the Michigan Department of Community Health. The new law is expected to increase that to about 80 to 85 percent.

If it doesn't, and less than 80 percent of drivers are wearing seatbelts in 2005, Michigan will return to its current law.

Johnson stressed that the new law also will require children under 4 years of age to be restrained in federally approved child seats. He said about one-quarter of Michigan children are now riding without restraints.

10-20-99