SELT BELT USAGE DOWN DRAMATICALLY FOR BACK SEAT RIDERS

Only a minority of people who ride in the backseat a buckling up. The results were released at a press conference on Thursday. The numbers show a five percent drop in people over the age of 18 wearing a seat belt at 27 percent, with only 37 percent using the restraint between the ages of 8 and 18. In 2009, 53 percent of children had a safety belt on. All children are required to be buckled up if they are not in a child seat. The numbers come from the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Front seat usage has continued to be on the rise for years.