CHARLESTON, S.C. - Although more South Carolina drivers are using seat belts now than last year, the state is nowhere near the top of the list of states that buckle up most often.

Seat belt use in South Carolina jumped from 66.3 percent in 2002 to 72.8 percent this year, according to a study released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. States estimated their seat belt usage based on roadside surveys.

Despite the increase, South Carolina ranked 36th out of 47 states surveyed and was below the national average of 79 percent.

NHTSA released the data as part of a national push for primary seat belt laws that allow police to ticket motorists for failing to buckle up. It renewed the call for all states to pass primary seat belt laws.

Though seat belts are required in South Carolina, the law is a secondary one. That means police cannot pull over a vehicle based solely on a seat belt violation unless the unbelted person is younger than 18.

A bill requiring primary seat belt enforcement made its way through the House last spring, but it was never considered by the full Senate.

Information from: The Post And Courier