Toughen Ohio’s seat-belt law

Columbus Dispatch: Ohioans’ ranking, again, among the states where people are least likely to wear seat belts is no badge of honor. More like a Scarlet D, for dumb.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a report showing that, while overall in the U.S., 87 percent of people driving or riding in cars wore seat belts in 2014, state laws seem to make a difference. In states where going without a seat belt is a primary offense — meaning drivers can be stopped for that reason, even if they aren’t breaking any other law — 90 percent of vehicle occupants wear seat belts.

In states such as Ohio, where going without a seat belt is not a primary offense, only 79 percent were found to be wearing seat belts.

Being in an automobile is one of the riskiest things most Americans ever do, and seat belts have proved time and again to be effective in saving drivers and passengers from the worst consequences of most crashes.

Virtually every car on the road today has seat belts; affordability is not an issue. Refusing to wear them is foolish. And making failure to wear them a primary offense could save lives and the untold expense that results from serious injury. Buckle up, Ohio.