Lack of seat belt use taking deadly toll in Virginia

About 20 percent of Virginians don't wear seat belts when they're driving or riding in a motor vehicle, according to state police.

New statistics also show that people who weren't using their seat belts account for about 40 percent of all fatalities on area highways.

The most recent death came Friday, when Dustin Ray Thompson of Williamsburg lost control of his Dodge Dakota as it was traveling on Ironbound Road in James City County.

State police said Thompson died after his vehicle left the road and hit a tree and a fence.

The 28-year-old, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, died at the scene when he was thrown from the truck.

State police said his chances of survival would have been higher had he buckled up.

Beginning Sunday, state police teamed up with local police and sheriffs departments in a zero-tolerance campaign aimed at drivers who don't buckle up.

The "Click It or Ticket" campaign will last until March 23.

Despite a series of high-profile safety efforts, police remain concerned about the low level of seat belt use in Virginia, pointing out that a disproportionate number of people who don't use seat belts end up being killed when they are involved in accidents.

Following the May 2007 Click It or Ticket campaign, Virginia's statewide safety belt compliance rate was 79.9 percent, just shy of the goal of 82 percent.

When worn correctly, seat belts have reduced the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and 60 percent in pick-up trucks, SUVs and mini-vans, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to Virginia State Police, at least 67 people killed on state roads in the first 60 days of the year weren't buckled up.

And in some parts of the Peninsula and surrounding area, the number of people killed in road accidents who weren't wearing seat belts last year was higher than those who were.

In Newport News, there were seven unbelted fatalities in 2007 compared to just one belted fatality, according to statistics from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

In Suffolk, 11 unbelted passengers or drivers were killed in 2007 compared to five who were wearing seat belts.

And in Hampton, two of the people who lost their lives on city streets last year weren't wearing seat belts, compared to eight who were.

Click It or Ticket is a high-visibility enforcement program intended to raise awareness of safety restraints — including improperly secured child restraints.

People caught driving without using their seat belts will be fined instead of given a warning.

"Lives are saved on our highways when people use their seat belts and properly restrain children, toddlers and infants," said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police.

The state departments of transportation, motor vehicles and police and several other groups launched the Highway Safety Challenge last year as concern mounted over the rising death toll on the state's roads.