More Iowa motorists are wearing their seatbelts than ever before, according to a state survey. Scott Falb, a traffic safety specialist with the Iowa Department of Transportation, says Iowa’s now at 81-percent seat belt compliance.Falb says the three-percent rise from the previous year is the largest jump in seat belt compliance Iowa’s seen in a decade. He says we’ve been stuck at 78-percent for the last two years. That compares to 46-percent when the seatbelt law first became law.The 81-percent figure was derived from dozens of surveys statewide during 2001 in a cross-section of places. Motorists were observed in 99 locations on interstates, state highways, county roads and city streets in metro areas and in small towns. Falb says it’s realistic for Iowa to strive for still-better numbers. He says North Carolina and California have broken the 90-precent barrier.Falb says the high seat belt usage reflects active law enforcement and public education campaigns in Iowa during the past few years. He says reaching 81-percent usage places Iowa among the top 10 states in the nation for seat belt use.
