Buckling up, saving lives

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Seat-belt usage in the state should almost immediately begin to climb, if state troopers actively enforce the new law. The belt usage rate generally increases in states that adopt the tougher seat-belt law.

As it stands, South Carolina has one of the lowest seat-belt usage rates in the nation. Our state's motorists simply don't buckle up as often as people do in other states. In fact, South Carolina is one of only four states in the nation with a belt use rate at 65 percent or lower.

It's not hard to see a clear connection between those low usage rates and the high rate of fatalities — third highest in the nation — on South Carolina roads. About 1,000 people die every year in car accidents in South Carolina. And almost 75 percent of them were not wearing seat belts.

The new law will allow police to pull over drivers for not wearing a seat belt. Before the new law, drivers could be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt only if they were pulled over for another violation.

The fine is a modest $25. But the law is a strong incentive for people to wear seat belts: Not only do motorists not want to be fined, but they don't like the inconvenience of being stopped. The states with the highest seat-belt usage rates — California, Hawaii, Michigan, Oregon and Washington — have seat-belt laws similar to the one just enacted in South Carolina.

In addition to the new law, other steps are needed to make our deadly roads more safe. The best strategy would be to increase the number of state troopers on the road to deter drunken and reckless driving. State lawmakers are beginning to add to the trooper ranks, but more officers need to be hired. Over the long term, South Carolina also has to build wider roads and do a better job of maintaining all of its roads.

The new seat-belt legislation became law without Gov. Mark Sanford's signature. Gubernatorial leadership on this issue would have been preferred, but at least the governor passively allowed the law to take effect after setting aside his personal concerns about the law violating individual liberty. He also noted the existing seat-belt law did not allow police officers to enforce the law — a point he found objectionable.

Sanford's libertarian concerns surely will resonate with some South Carolinians. But state lawmakers understood the seat-belt law would save lives. And so it should, if properly enforced.