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Seat-Belt Use on Decline in USVI, Highway Safety Data Finds; VIPD to Take 'Immediate Action'

Recent seat-belt safety statistics have shown a 5.3 percent decline in the use of seat belts among motorists in the U.S Virgin Islands.  Data generated through the VI Office of Highway Safety’s (VIOHS) annual Observational Seat Belt Use Survey indicate that motorists and their front seat passengers are failing to consistently wear seat belts.  Each year, VIOHS hires an independent contractor to assess seat belt usage in the territory and although seat belts are proven to reduce risks for crash-related injuries and fatalities, 67 percent of motorists utilize it. VIOHS said Sunday that when compared to the national seat belt usage rate which averages over 90%, the territory’s rate continues to reflect a deficient safety culture. “After a statistically significant gain of 4.3 percentage points in 2021, 2022 survey data plummeted to a usage rate of 67.0% - a loss of 5.3 percentage points,” it said in a press statement.   “This is more than a law enforcement issue. Lack of seat belt co...