S.D. Seatbelt Use Up from 2006

More South Dakotans have gotten in the habit of buckling up in the past year.

The state Office of Highway Safety said 73 percent of drivers and passengers now use their seatbelt. That’s up from 71 percent last year.

The director of the state Office of Highway Safety, Ron Meyer, said seatbelt use is highest on the rural interstates at 87 percent and lowest on rural roads at 65 percent.

Meyer said seatbelt use in rural areas needs to increase because 70 percent of the state’s fatal traffic accidents happen on rural roads.

Seatbelt use has increased each year since 2000 when it was 53 percent.