Physicians in State''s Largest Trauma Program Support Legislation

January 25, 2007, ST. LOUIS – Missouri drivers may hear "Click It Or Ticket" should a bill in the state legislature pass as law. For those in "Show Me" State trauma centers, it serves as exciting news.

If enacted, Missouri House Bill 90 would allow police to stop and ticket drivers for seat belt violations.

Douglas Schuerer, MD, oversees the largest trauma program in Missouri at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

"That means drivers who aren''t wearing their seat belts can be stopped for that infraction only," says Dr. Schuerer. "This in general means that people will be forced to wear seat belts more because they can be stopped for just not wearing a seat belt."

In 2006, there were 1,257 deaths on Missouri roads. According to Dr. Schuerer, many of those lives would have been saved through seat belt use.

"We have multiple patients that come in from an accident where one was wearing seatbelt and one isn''t. The one that isn''t is thrown out of the car, rolls over, has severe head or abdominal injuries, and in fact many times dies from the injuries. Whereas people with seat belts in the same car are alive, have only minor injuries," says Dr. Schuerer.

"There is a saying among EMS providers that they''ve never unbuckled a dead person from a seatbelt," he says.

According to statistics, seat belt laws change driver''s habits. In 2003, Illinois passed similar legislation and the number of belted drivers rose from 76 percent in 2003, to 88 percent in 2006. Meanwhile in Missouri, seat belt use has actually decreased from 77 percent in 2004, to 75 percent in 2006. Dr. Schuerer says that''s why primary seat belt laws are increasing throughout the country:

"It''s been proven in other states that when a primary seat belt law is passed, the seat belt use increases," says Dr. Schuerer. "With that increase use in seat belts there''s also definite improvement in decreasing injuries, increasing lives saved."

The Missouri Department of Transportation says a better Missouri seat belt law could save society $231 million and 90 lives a year. Should the bill pass, Dr. Schuerer hopes Missouri follows the pattern of states like Illinois. He adds that even if the bill is not passed, he hopes the discussion leads to more people using their seat belt. The Missouri Legislature will hear the bill in transportation subcommittee on February 13.