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(USGovernment-News.Com, February 02, 2015 ) Salt Lake City, UT -- It seems that every time the news is on, there are more car accidents to be heard of. In Utah, the traffic accident fatality rate is the highest that it has been in the past six years. Just a few days ago, this was confirmed when the Utah Department of Transportation reported that 256 people lost their lives in 2014, which is a jump from 2013’s number of 220. This is the highest number that the state has seen since 2008, when there were 276 traffic fatalities.
“That’s cause for major concern,” states John Gleason, a UDOT spokesman.
As of right now, there is not a primary seat belt law for the state of Utah. In hopes of lowering the death counts for the upcoming years, there has been a recent push for new primary seat belt laws to be established.
Those in favor of the change state that seatbelts save lives – which, in the end, saves the government money. Here is the logic behind that idea: An average of 20% of accident victims do not wear a seat belt. That being said, consider the amount that government medical insurance spends on accident victims. 62% of this money is being spent on people that choose not to wear a seatbelt.
Studies have proven that primary seat belt laws in other areas have reduced their fatality counts by at least 12%. If these laws had been adjusted last year, the lives of 25-30 Utah residents could have been saved.
Some people oppose the change, saying that it limits their personal freedom to choose for themselves if they want to buckle up or not. However, not doing so can impact a number of people, not just one.
Craig Swapp & Associates is a Salt Lake City car accident lawyer that hears about literally hundreds of auto wrecks every week. He agrees that one easy way to stay safer on the road is simply to buckle up. Other statistics and safety tips can be found on his website: http://www.craigswapp.com/car-accident-lawyer/.
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