Complete the seat-belt law

By The Gazette Editorial Board

Seat belts save lives - few people don't know that by now.

It only makes sense to buckle up when you're on the road - no matter where in the car you're riding or how old you are.

Unbuckled passengers aren't only a danger to themselves in the event of an accident; they can cause injury to others.

So we're confused by a new law that expands requirements for back-seat passengers to wear seat belts. The old law required it for children under 11; as of Thursday, it will apply to everyone under 18.

Why the piecemeal approach, lawmakers? Why not follow the lead of more than a dozen other states, and require all passengers of every age, in all seats, to buckle up?

Iowans already comply with seat belt laws at a higher rate - 93.1 percent in 2009 - than the U.S. average of 84 percent. Most of us understand buckling up is a critical safety decision. And those who don't, well, a law acts as a consistent incentive to change.

So why are politicians reluctant to pull the trigger on a comprehensive seat belt law? It's time.

Beginning Thursday, Iowa law will require all back-seat passengers younger than 18 to wear seat belts. Violators face a total of $127.50 in fines, court costs and fees.

Passengers aged 14 and over are charged for violating the law; if younger passengers don't comply, the driver is charged. The driver also is charged if unbuckled passengers are unable to fasten their own seat belt because of a disability.

Accident analysis experts verified 1,823 unbelted youths were injured in Iowa traffic accidents between 2004 and 2007. Of those, 84 percent were age 11 to 17. Eighty-five percent of the 71 unbelted people who died in accidents during that same period were back-seat passengers between age 11 and 17.

Expanding the law to require all minors to buckle up in the back seat should help address those heartbreaking numbers. Good move - but not good enough.

Advocates and accident victims have been pushing for a comprehensive law, and with good reason. Studies show seat belt use significantly reduces fatality rates in an accident.

The Governors Highway Safety Association recommends that states require all passengers to be properly restrained at all times.

Restraints saved more than 15,000 lives across this country in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If everyone had buckled up that year, the agency estimates another 5,000 lives would have been saved.

Iowa legislators got it half right. They need to finish the job when they convene again in January.