The percentage of motorists using seatbelts in Pennsylvania continues to rise but many teenagers are not taking this precaution.
A recently published report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that seat belt use across the state rose three percent in 2018 to 88.5% of motorists which is just below the national average of 89.6%.
One out of every six vehicle occupants are still not buckling up with the majority of those teenagers and young adults ages 16 to 24. More than half of teens who died in crashes in 2016 were not wearing a seat belt.
Seat belt use was 14% nationally in the early 1980s. Reasons for the increase include seat belt laws and enforcement as well as seatbelt design and effectiveness.