Seat Belts Not Buckled in 59% of Alabama Car Crash Fatalities

Alabama Department of Transportation officials said more than half of the people killed in car crashes last year were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

State officials released a report based on preliminary data from the Alabama State Troopers indicating that 59 percent of people who died in traffic accidents in 2012 were not wearing seat belts.

Officials said 424 traffic fatality victims were in vehicles where seat belts were available and 251 were not wearing them at the time of the crash. A total of 513 people died in crashes investigated by state troopers in 2012.

State law requires front seat passengers and children between six and 15 to wear seat belts. Children younger than 6 must ride in a federally approved child seat.

Topics Auto Personal Auto Alabama