(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Ohio may be making progress improving vehicle safety by tightening the laws about driving distracted, but a new report suggests Buckeye State residents are moving backward on another front.

According to a report by Axios Columbus, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration numbers show fewer Ohioans are wearing their seat belts. As Axios points out, most of those killed in car accidents in Ohio were not wearing their seat belts, yet more people appear willing to take that risk.

Citing research that shows Ohio seat belt use is at its lowest since 2005, Axios reported approximately 85% of Ohio drivers wore their seat belts in 2022. That is down from 86% in 2019. (The national average usage is a little less than 92%).

Perhaps the difference lies in seat belt violations NOT being primary offenses in Ohio (as smartphone and other electronics use now are). A driver cannot be pulled over solely because an officer spots that driver without a seat belt.

A multi-day targeted enforcement campaign for all traffic laws across the Ohio stretch of I-70 led to the Ohio State Highway Patrol issuing hundreds of speeding tickets, according to Axios, but only 31 seat belt citations.

Lawmakers could do something about that. But they don’t seem willing. Gov. Mike DeWine supported language in the state budget that would have made seat belt violations primary offenses, but it was rejected.

“We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” Emily Davidson, executive director of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, said, according to Axios.

That would be nice. But sometimes it takes a little encouragement (in the form of the threat of being pulled over) to reinforce a habit.

Lawmakers must consider whether it is time to elevate seat belt violations to primary offenses.