Officials say a new survey shows 91 percent of New Yorkers fasten their seat belts showing record compliance with the traffic safety requirement the state first imposed 30 years ago.
The survey, conducted by the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, shows this year’s seat belt usage is up slightly from 90.4 percent in 2012 and 90.5 percent in 2011.
The survey was conducted at 120 locations in 12 counties where drivers and front-seat passengers were monitored for seat belt compliance.
New York’s occupant restraint law was enacted in 1984, with enforcement beginning in 1985. Police can stop a vehicle and issue a ticket for failure to wear a seat belt as a primary violation. It carries a fine of up to $50.
(AP)