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Maine Approves Year’s First Primary Safety Belt Law
Maine Gov. John Baldacci recently signed the year’s first primary
safety belt law, which becomes effective 90 days after state
lawmakers adjourn in late June. Violators will receive warnings from
September through April 1, 2008.
Leading a coalition of stakeholders,
AAA Northern New
England
employed several strategies including CapWiz — a Web-based
legislative action center — to engage members in the grassroots
advocacy process. In addition,
Jeremie Whorff, a local
champion race car driver sponsored by the club, testified in support
of the bill,
which links motor sports with advances in restraint devices.
“Maine’s safety belt law will save approximately 10 lives, prevent
155 serious injuries and save $33 million annually,” said Pat Moody,
the club’s Traffic Safety/Public Affairs manager. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates Maine’s primary law
will raise the state’s current 77.2 percent safety belt usage rate
by more than nine percentage points.
With the new law, the state becomes eligible for a one-time $3.7
million federal incentive grant.
Including Maine, 26 states have primary safety belt laws, and
several others are considering similar legislation this session.
Primary laws authorize police to cite motorists who are not wearing
safety belts. |
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Parent-Teen Driving
Challenge Fair
September 30, 2006
The 3 generation Whorff boys learn how to STOP for a traffic light.
Matt McKenzie, Vice President/AAA, beside Bill Jr.,
and Tom Kinley, President
and CEO of
AAA Northern New England,
with Jeremie
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