All occupants in a vehicle would be required to wear seat belts under a bill heard by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee Feb. 9.<\/p>\n
Currently, not wearing a seat belt is enforced only as a secondary offense when the driver is pulled over for a primary offense, such as speeding. LB669, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, would make the state\u2019s current seat belt requirement a primary offense, rather than secondary, for all vehicle occupants.<\/p>\n
Krist said that Nebraska is one of only 16 states that does not have a primary seat belt law.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a notable increase in traffic deaths in recent years. Of the 189 killed in Nebraska in 2014, almost 70 percent were not wearing a seat belt,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we are truly serious about public safety, we need to pay attention to those that are driving [without seat belts].\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose White, representing AAA Nebraska, supported the bill, calling the state\u2019s current seat belt law \u201cweak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLegislators in other states have recognized that the implementation of evidence-based policies like primary seat belt laws truly benefit the citizens of the state,\u201d White said. \u201c[LB669] would allow Nebraskans to realize the law\u2019s maximum potential and make it a primary offense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruce Beins, representing the Nebraska Emergency Medical Services Association, also supported the bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re not a seat belt proponent when you [start a career as a first responder], you will be one very quickly,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the functions the government has is protecting the public and I do think we need to protect the public in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n
George Ferebee, of Edgar, opposed the bill. Rather than a seat belt mandate, he said, the state\u2019s focus should be on providing better driver education to new drivers so accidents can be prevented in the first place.<\/p>\n
The committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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