There are not enough Missourians buckling up when they get behind the wheel. A recent statewide survey stated only 77% Missourians buckle up on a regular basis.

That's 7% less than the national average of 84%, and only one percent higher than the state's average last year.

Tony McGaughay, the Assistant Engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, said one of the best means of defense in a crash is a seatbelt. According to statistics from the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, in 2008, 489 people killed in Missouri traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts.

Mr. McGaughay says the number of Missourians not wearing seat belts regularly is concerning. He attributes the lack of usage to a couple reasons, including Missouri not having a primary seatbelt law, "The education. We were trying to get that out there and telling them about why the importance of wearing seat belts such as they'll keep you from getting ejected, keep you from hitting a dashboard and being a projectile from the vehicle." Mr. McGaughay also said "studies have shown once you enact a primary seat belt law, your percentage will rise up to about 11% higher. People will start putting them on. It's the only law out of 500 that is not an automatic enforcement. It's second level enforcement."

To help get more people to buckle up in this area, Mr. McGaughay said MODOT joined forces with local law enforcement officers to kick off educational programs including Click it or Ticket, a seat belt enforcement campaign. He said the two departments are also reaching out to the younger generation in an effort to educate them on the importance of buckling up.