The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says there has been a considerable bump in the number of drivers who die simply because they crash although not wearing a seat belt this year.
Public Safety Department Secretary Trevor Jones mentioned that 83 % of deaths from auto crashes as of April 9 involved an un-belted victim.
That’s up from about 60 percent in previous years.
So far this year there have been 18 deaths reported from auto crashes in South Dakota. Of these, 15 of the victims weren’t restrained.
Jones says neglecting to wear a seat belt indicates drivers are more likely to be thrown from a automobile throughout a crash.
The Highway Patrol is reminding motorists that state law requires drivers and front seat passengers to buckle up.
Copyright 2015 Related Press. All rights reserved. This material could not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
South Dakota Sees Uptick in Un-Belted Driver Deaths
