Oklahomans Are Buckling Up

Oklahomans are buckling up at a rate slightly higher than the national average.

Monday, June 22nd 2009, 1:05 pm

By: News On 6

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahomans are buckling up at a rate slightly higher than the national average.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office says that last year, 84.3 percent of Oklahomans used seat belts. That is up 1.2 percent from 2007 and 16.4 percent from 2001.

Visit Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.

The national average seat belt compliance rate is 83 percent, though some states have compliance rates nearing 100 percent.

The Highway Safety Office reports 53.7 percent of motorists who died in wrecks in 2007 -- the most recent year for which statistics are available -- were not wearing seat belts.