State troopers say that most people killed in car wrecks this year in Horry and Georgetown counties did not wear seat belts, but experts say that should change soon after the new state seat belt law takes effect in December.

"Within the first year, people will be much more aware of the penalties and they will be much more likely to follow through and wear their safety belts," said Elly Martin, spokeswoman for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The two most recent deadly crashes on Horry County and Georgetown County roads occurred last week.

Former Georgetown County Magistrate Mary Alice Williams died Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash in Georgetown County. On Wednesday, Michael Bournazian of Massachusetts was killed in a three-vehicle collision in Horry County.

Seat belts and law enforcement are primary elements for reducing traffic fatalities, Martin said.

"They are absolutely of paramount importance in reducing fatal injuries," she said. "They go hand in hand."

Fatal crashes in Georgetown County now total 15 - more than double the number from a year ago, according to the Georgetown County coroner's office. The Horry County coroner's office said 28 people have died in crashes since Janu-
ary, two more than in 2004.

Statewide, 403 vehicle occupants have died in collisions and 300 of them did not wear seat belts, according to S.C. Department of Public Safety records.

Senior Trooper Sonny Collins, a Highway Patrol spokesman, said he also thinks the new law will cause seat belt use to increase and fatal crashes to decline.

"They have proven time and time again to be the most effective safety device in a vehicle," Collins said.

The enhancements passed for South Carolina's seat belt law in June will allow police to pull over adult drivers for not wearing a seat belt without requiring another reason for the traffic stop. The state is now one of 23 states with such a law.

"South Carolina's very low safety-belt-use rate is a major factor in speeding-related deaths," said Dr. Jeffrey Runge, administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "But the state's new primary belt law should raise belt use and help address the problem - not with speeding, but with speeding-related fatalities."

Martin said the law would be particularly helpful in crashes that involve sport utility vehicles because those vehicles are more prone to roll over and more people are ejected from SUVs when they don't wear seat belts.

S.C. Department of Public Safety officials said they expect to roll out an education campaign before the law takes effect. Collins said he couldn't be sure whether officers will begin enforcing the law with warning tickets.

Contact KENNETH A. GAILLIARD at 626-0312 or kgailliard@thesunnews.com.

Traffic deaths and seat belt use as of June 26:

SOUTH CAROLINA

Killed in 2005 | 517

Same period in 2004 | 492; 403 of those killed were in vehicles, and 300 of them did not wear seat belts.

HORRY COUNTY

2005 | 28

2004 | 26

GEORGETOWN COUNTY

2005 | 15

2004 | 7

Note: The numbers are preliminary and based on fatal crashes reported to the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Source: S.C. Department of Public Safety